Parliament Special Session HIGHLIGHTS — Lok Sabha Passes Women’s Reservation Bill With Overwhelming Support
Parliament Special Session HIGHLIGHTS: Hello and welcome to Parliament Special Session live blog. Please follow this space for all the latest updates on the ongoing special session of the Parliament.
Background
Parliament Special Session HIGHLIGHTS: Hello and welcome to Parliament Special Session live blog. Please follow this space for all the latest updates on the ongoing special session of the Parliament. On Tuesday, the MPs bid adieu to the old Parliament and walked to the new building led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the first half of the day, Modi addressed the MPs of both the Houses in the Central Hall of the old Parliament building where he looked back at the key moments and important legislations that were passed. The Women's Reservation Bill was tabled on the second day of the session and the bill will be debated today.
He commemorated that the national flag and national anthem were adopted in the old Parliament building and mentioned law against triple talaq, decriminalising of Article 377, and abrogation of Article 370 which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir as being passed in the same building.
He also said that the dignity of the old Parliament building should not be dimnished and so proposed it to be known as 'Samvidhan Sadan'.
The Parliamentarians then walked to the new building in the second half where the first session of Lok Sabha took place. Modi called the said that the new Parliament was the "dawn of the amritkaal" of India's Independence and was a testament to India's new future.
"I extend my heartiest welcome to all of you in this new Parliament building. This occasion is unprecedented in several ways. This is the dawn of Azadi ka Amrit Kaal," he said.
He then appealed to all parties to forget past animosity as they started proceedings in the new building. "Parliament is the supreme place to serve the nation. Whatever we do in this new Parliament building, it should be an inspiration to every citizen of the country. When we are starting a new chapter, we should forget all past bitterness," PM Modi said.
The Women's Reservation Bill became the first bill to be introduced in the new Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
Lok Sabha Passes Women’s Reservation Bill With Overwhelming Support
The Lok Sabha has unanimously approved the Women’s Reservation Bill, marking a historic milestone with its provision for a 33 percent reservation for women in both the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal provided an extensive explanation of the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023, which was subsequently passed.
During the division, an overwhelming 454 members voted in favor of the legislation, with only two members opposing it. The Opposition's proposed amendments were rejected, and voting took place on various clauses of the bill. Speaker Om Birla announced the bill's successful passage.
Following its clearance in the Lok Sabha, the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023 is set to be taken up by the Rajya Sabha on Thursday (September 20). Notably, in 2010, the Rajya Sabha had previously passed the Women’s Reservation Bill during the Congress-led UPA government. However, it was not considered in the Lok Sabha and subsequently lapsed in the lower House of Parliament. This live blog, covering the day's major events from the special parliamentary session, is now concluded, as the Rajya Sabha prepares for what promises to be a highly-anticipated and contentious session tomorrow.
'We Voted Against It So That...': AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi Explains His Opposition To Women's Reservation Bill
Asaduddin Owaisi, Member of Parliament from the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM), has clarified his vote against the Women's Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha. Owaisi cited concerns about the underrepresentation of Muslim women in Indian politics, emphasising the need to fight for the inclusion of both OBC and Muslim women.
#WATCH | Delhi: On voting against the Women's Reservation Bill on Lok Sabha, AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi says, "... There are 7% Muslim women in the Indian population and their representation is 0.7%... We voted against it so that they would know that there were two MPs who were… pic.twitter.com/dLIfFioIM9
— ANI (@ANI) September 20, 2023
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