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 4:36 PM IST
NCP's Sule urges PM Modi to bring Women's Reservation Bill
NCP leader Supriya Sule strongly defended the Congress after the BJP criticised it over the Women's Reservation Bill issue, saying the first woman prime minister and president were from the Congress and the legislation was also brought by it. But the bill could not be passed due to lack of numbers, she said.
In the Lok Sabha, Sule urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring the Women's Reservation Bill and assured that her party would support it.
"Most women MPs have been asking about the Women's Reservation Bill. Everyone sitting here has been concerned about it," she said.
- 18 Sept 2023 4:31 PM IST
Deve Gowda speaks in RS on Cauvery water dispute
Former PM HD Deve Gowda speaks in RS on the Cauvery water dispute. He says the problem can not be solved legally, only dialogue between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu can find a way forward. He adds that Karnataka is the "worst sufferer" regarding water crisis as it has river water sharing disputes with Goa, Tamil Nadu and Telangana. As Tiruchi Siva of the DMK objects to Gowda's submissions, the JD(S) leader says he urges the Rajya Sabha to send a delegation of 5 members of the RS who are not from either Karnataka or TN to visit Karnataka, assess the water crisis for themselves and report their findings to the RS."I will accept whatever they say," he says. Gowda says he is 91 years old and has been trying to find a solution for the Cauvery issue for 60 years. "I don't know how long I'll live but I only want this dispute to be resolved in my time." - 18 Sept 2023 3:37 PM IST
Manmohan Singh, in a wheelchair, attends RS
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh attended Rajya Sabha proceedings in a wheelchair.
Singh, who was prime minister for 10 years between 2004 and 2014, was wheeled into the House just before it assembled.
The 90-year-old frail-looking Singh sat quietly for exactly an hour, listening to Leader of the House and Union Minister Piyush Goyal and Leader of the Opposition and Congress president M Mallikarjun Kharge speak on a discussion on 75 years of parliamentary journey.
Congress MPs, including former Union finance minister P Chidambaram, greeted Singh with folded hands as they passed by.
- 18 Sept 2023 3:35 PM IST
PM mentions oldest, youngest, longest serving MPs
As the functioning of Parliament shifts to the new building, Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned the oldest member of Lok Sabha - 93 years old Samajwadi Party MP Shafiqur Rahman Barq – and the youngest - 30 years old Chandrani Murmu of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) – who became an MP at the age of 25.He also remembered Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Indrajit Gupta, who served as a Lok Sabha MP for almost 36 years from 1960 to 2001, except for a short period from 1977 to 1980. - 18 Sept 2023 3:17 PM IST
Chowdhury: Fear in people's minds about one party dictatorship being imposed:
Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said there has been apprehensions in people's minds about the country being run through "one party dictatorship", attempts to destabilise opposition party-ruled states and the "selective" use of central agencies.
"There has been fear in people's minds about one party dictatorship being imposed. There is fear about attempts to destabilise opposition (party) ruled states and selective use of central agencies," he said in Rajya Sabha.
Observing that plurality is the essence of civilisation, Chowdhury said India is a nation of unending pluralism and the opinion of everyone should be respected.
"There is no inclusivity. You can see how many MPs here belong to the minority communities...We should give up our arrogance... Jindagi lambi nahi, badi honi chahiye (life should be big instead of long)," he said, quoting a popular dialogue of a yesteryear Bollywood hit.
