Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday made a strong pitch for the inclusion of women in national policymaking and urged all political parties to pass the Women's Reservation Bill in Parliament by consensus, while offering to "give credit" to the Opposition for the historic move.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha, PM Modi said the time has come to grant adequate representation to women at the national level, adding that those opposing the Bill cannot hide behind "technical points and excuses" to delay it further. He noted that the issue has remained unresolved for three decades and must now be cleared with unanimous support. He also warned that any attempt to stall the Bill would be closely watched and "suitably punished".
Extending what he called a "blank cheque" offer, the Prime Minister said, "We don't want credit. You pass it, I will issue an advertisement publishing your photos. I am offering you a blank cheque of credit," amid sloganeering from Opposition benches.
He further urged parties not to block or stall 'nari shakti' from realising their ambitions, cautioning against giving the Bill a political colour. According to him, greater representation of women in state and national legislatures will bring sensitivity, experience, and compassion into policymaking. He added that there is no dearth of talent among women in the country.
Highlighting the broader impact, PM Modi said the Women's Reservation Bill would help change the "disha and dasha" (direction and condition) of the nation's politics by involving half of the population in decision-making. He also linked it to the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, stating that women voters have already shown their power by holding those opposing such measures accountable.
Taking a subtle swipe at the Opposition, he said Parliament now has adequate space to accommodate more lawmakers after delimitation, noting that the government had anticipated this and constructed a more spacious building.
Meanwhile, a special three-day session of Parliament is underway from April 16 to 18, during which key legislations are being taken up, including the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, the Delimitation Bill, 2026, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
Earlier in the day, the Women's Reservation Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha by Union Law Minister Arjun Meghwal. The introduction was approved following a division of votes, after the Opposition demanded a recorded voting process.
The House saw 251 votes in favour and 185 against the introduction, as announced by Speaker Om Birla, though the figures remain subject to change. In a subsequent round using vote slips, a total of 333 members cast their votes, with no abstentions recorded.
The Lok Sabha typically passes motions through voice votes, but a "division" is conducted when demanded by members. Under this process, the Automatic Vote Recorder system is used to register votes under "Ayes", "Noes", and "Abstain".
Lok Sabha Secretary General Utpal Singh briefed members on the voting procedure, explaining that votes must be cast within the designated time between gongs for them to be recorded. He also noted that members can opt for vote slips if they wish to change their vote.
The motion for introduction required a simple majority and was carried amid heightened political engagement, setting the stage for further debate on the Women's Reservation Bill.
(With inputs from IANS)
