NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the failure of the women’s reservation bill was a setback for women across the country and apologised for not being able to ensure its passage despite efforts by his government.This follows a major setback for the government in the Lok Sabha on Friday. The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, which proposed 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures and an increase in Lok Sabha seats to 816, was defeated. The proposal aimed to increase Lok Sabha seats from 543 to 816 to implement women’s reservation ahead of the 2029 parliamentary elections, following a delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census. It also planned to expand seats in state and Union Territory assemblies to accommodate the quota.
Top quotes from PM’s address:
- “Today, I have come to speak to the mothers, sisters, and daughters of the country. Today, every citizen of India is seeing how the dreams of India’s women power have been crushed mercilessly. Despite our best efforts, we could not succeed. For this, I sincerely apologise to all mothers and sisters.”
- “For us, national interest comes first. But for some people, when party interest becomes everything, then women’s empowerment and the nation’s interest suffer. That is what has happened this time as well. The selfish politics of parties like Congress, DMK, TMC and SP has cost the women of this country.”
- “I felt hurt to see that when the bill for women’s welfare was defeated, parties like Congress and DMK were clapping and thumping desks. What they did was not just noise on the table, it was a blow to the dignity of women.”
- “A woman may forget everything, but she never forgets her insult. That pain of their behaviour will remain in the heart of every woman. Whenever the women of this country see these leaders in their areas, they will remember that these were the very people who celebrated stopping women’s reservation in Parliament.”
- “Congress and its allied parties are constantly spreading lies in the country. They are trying to use this as a pretext to fuel the fire of division. ‘Divide and rule’—this is the kind of politics Congress has inherited from the British. That is why this false narrative is being spread that some states will suffer due to delimitation. The government has clearly stated that seats in all states will increase in equal proportion.”
- “One of the main reasons behind opposition to theNari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam is the fear among dynastic parties. They fear that if women are empowered, their leadership will be challenged. They do not want women outside their families to rise. Today, lakhs of women have proven their capabilities in panchayats and local bodies, and now aspire to serve in the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies.”
- “After delimitation, there would have been more seats for women, and their representation would have increased. That is why they opposed the Nari Shakti Vandan Amendment. The women of this country will never forgive Congress and its allies for this wrongdoing.”
- “They have betrayed the people of their own states as well. The DMK had an opportunity, the TMC also had a chance to take the people of Bengal forward, but they too wasted it. The SP also had a chance to reduce its image of being anti-women, but by opposing this, it has crushed the dreams of Lohia ji.”
- “Congress has once again proved that it is an anti-reform party. Whatever decisions are necessary for a developed India in the 21st century, Congress opposes all of them. This has been the history of Congress and reflects its negative politics.”
- “Yesterday, we did not have the numbers, but that does not mean we have accepted defeat. Our efforts will not stop. We will have more opportunities in the future. For the dreams of half the population and for the future of the country, we are determined to fulfil this resolve.”
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