LIVE | Day 2 in Parliament: Unanimously clear women reservation bill, PM tells Rajya Sabha
Bill gets the name Naari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam; bill proposes 33% quota for women for 15 years
The government on Tuesday (September 19) introduced a constitutional amendment bill to reserve one-third of seats in Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women, reviving a bill pending for 27 years for want of consensus among parties.
Making it the first bill to be introduced in the new Parliament building, the government said it will enable greater participation of women in policy-making at the state and national levels and help achieve the goal of making India a developed country by 2047. The bill has been named Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam.
With several parties parties pushing for reservation of women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies, the bill is likely to see a smooth passage this time, unlike the earlier instances when several regional parties had opposed it. However, its implementation may still take some time and is unlikely to be in force for the next Lok Sabha elections in 2024 as the reservation will come into effect only after a delimitation exercise is completed.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the Union Cabinet approved the bill on Monday and that the government wants more and more women to join the development process of the country. The world has recognised the women-led development process in the country and is witnessing contribution made by Indian women in different aspects of life from sports to startups, the prime minister said.
In the Rajya Sabha, Modi appealed to members to unanimously approve the women's reservation bill - Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam - when it comes to the Upper House after being passed by Lok Sabha. Speaking during the first sitting of Rajya Sabha in the new Parliament building, Modi said the bill would be taken up in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. "When the bill comes before you, I urge Rajya Sabha members to approve it unanimously," Modi said.
Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced the Constitutional Amendment bill, Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, to reserve one-third of the seats in Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women earlier in the day.
The special session commenced on Monday (September 18) amid an intense buzz on whether the government will have some surprise item up its sleeve. What followed was an impassioned speech by Prime Modi, who recalled key pieces of legislation passed in the existing Parliament House.
Live Updates
- 18 Sept 2023 7:06 PM IST
Key cabinet meeting begins
Key cabinet meeting on the agenda for the special session began at the Annex building at 6.30 pm.
The meeting was convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The agenda of the meeting is yet to be revealed.
- 18 Sept 2023 6:08 PM IST
Lok Sabha adjourned
Lok Sabha to reconvene in the new Parliament building on Tuesday (September 19) at 1:15 PM.
- 18 Sept 2023 6:01 PM IST
Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2:15 PM Tuesday
RS Chairman Dhankhar cuts Derek O'Brien's speech short. O'Brien says he still has 15 minutes time to speak as per the time allocated to his party. As the Opposition protests, Dhankhar adjourns RS till 2.15 PM tomorrow. Tomorrow's (September 19) session will convene in the new Parliament building. - 18 Sept 2023 6:00 PM IST
O'Brien takes a dig at PM Modi's '8 PM' announcement
TMC's Derek O'Brien: Give me back my India where media owners are not enslaved by the government... where slums aren't covered by green curtains when we are hosting international events, an India where religious propaganda doesn't trump science, where countless people don't die because of one man's announcement at 8 PM.
- 18 Sept 2023 5:53 PM IST
Derek O'Brien's 'give me back' pleas
TMC's Derek O'Brien in RS: Give me back my Parliament which is not undermined. Give me back my Parliament where we get to see our PM regularly with us. Give me back my Parliament where members are allowed to vote and Bills are not passed without debate. Give me back my Parliament where legislation goes through scrutiny and consultation, Bills are passed keeping in mind the federal structure and rights of states. We may be going to a new Building but give me back my Parliament where we MPs can talk to each other, give me my Central Hall. Give me back my India. Sorry Manipur, where our PM has not visited. Give me back my India where crimes against women are given harshest punishment, where women wrestlers are not harassed and the harasser shielded..., give me an India where PM condoles when our jawans are martyred instead of attending celebrations... Give me back my India where it's crown profitable PSUs are not put on sale... - 18 Sept 2023 5:51 PM IST
India is mother of political democracy: Trivedi
BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi, in RS, says, "India is the mother of political democracy and also the foundation head of religious and spiritual democracy."
- 18 Sept 2023 5:38 PM IST
Goyal: Hope we can raise dignity of our Parliamentary discussions
"Today is our last day in this Parliament, I hope we can raise the dignity of our Parliamentary discussions & put out a unified message today," said Union minister Piyush Goyal in Lok Sabha.
- 18 Sept 2023 5:20 PM IST
Take a cue from UK parliamentary rules: Congress MP Tankha
Congress's Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Tankha suggests that Parliament take a cue from the parliamentary rules and laws of the United Kingdom (UK) which provide for a minimum sitting of 100 days a year. Tankha says the UK system also provides that of these 100 days, the Opposition is allowed to decide the business of Parliament for 30 days, while the largest party and second largest party are allowed 3 days each to decide the business of the House.Tankha says if the Indian Parliament adopts a similar system, the scope for disruption will be reduced drastically. Tankha also suggests that the current system wherein only the government has the right to recommend to the President to convene a Parliament session should be changed and similar powers should be vested in the Opposition too. - 18 Sept 2023 5:18 PM IST
Federal structure of India under big threat: TMC's Sudip Bandyopadhyay
Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay said in the Lok Sabha that the spirit of brotherhood and mutual respect among MPs of various political parties that was earlier prevailing in Parliament was now lacking.It is not a good sign and this should change as the MPs move to the new Parliament building, said the TMC leader while participating in the discussion in Lok Sabha on "Parliamentary Journey of 75 years starting from Samvidhan Sabha Achievements, Experiences, Memories and Learnings".Bandyopadhyay also said that earlier PMs used to reply to queries of MPs during the Question Hour but this has not happened in the last 10 years.He called upon Opposition members to rededicate themselves to defending democracy and commit themselves to building a new India on the strong foundations of "secularism and federalism"."We must say long live secularism and federalism. The federal structure of the country is under big threat. West Bengal is one of the major victims," he said.He also spoke against any attempt "to create division between India and Bharat", adding, "We firmly stand by both". - 18 Sept 2023 4:45 PM IST
Chowdhury's LS suspension revoked by Speaker
The Lok Sabha panel on privileges on Monday submitted a report recommending revocation of the suspension of Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury from the Lower House.The report was adopted by the Privileges Committee of the Lok Sabha on August 30 and Chowdhury's suspension was revoked by Speaker Om Birla on the same day.The Committee, in its report, said Chowdhury's conduct of frequently interrupting or disturbing the proceedings of the House during the speech of the prime minister or other ministers was a "clear case of 'contempt of the House'." "Nevertheless, in view of the regrets expressed by Shri Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Member of Parliament, during his evidence before the Committee, the Committee would recommend that no further punitive action is called for in the matter," said the report, tabled by Committee Chairman Sunil Kumar Singh."The Committee, therefore, recommend that the suspension suffered by Shri Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury so far, be regarded as sufficient punishment and the Hon'ble Speaker, Lok Sabha may consider discontinuance/revoking the suspension … at the earliest, even without waiting for the House to reassemble for the forthcoming Winter Session in November/December 2023," the report said.The Congress leader was suspended from Lok Sabha on August 10 for "repeated misconduct", pending an investigation by the privileges committee.
