'Real Foundation Of Women Empowerment': MPs Across Party Lines Hail Passage Of Women's Reservation Bill

After the Women's Reservation Bill got clearance from the Rajya Sabha, reactions poured in from MPs across party lines.

As the Women's Reservation Bill got clearance from the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, reactions poured in from several MPs across party lines who unequivocally hailed the passage of the bill. The Rajya Sabha passed the long-pending bill granting 33 percent reservation to women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies on Thursday, with 215 MPs voting in favour of the bill. The Upper House of Parliament underwent a day-long session discussing the 128th Constitution Amendment Bill, the Nari Shakti Vandan Bill.

Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia hailed the bill and said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has established the real foundation of women empowerment. "Today the real foundation of women empowerment has been established by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Today is a historic day for the country," Scindia said.

BJP MP Smriti Irani praised the passage of the bill and said, "intention and dedication for the empowerment of mother power".  Irani took to X and said, "'Nari Shakti Vandan Act' is a symbol of Modi government's policy, intention and dedication for the empowerment of mother power! Congratulations to all the countrymen on #WomenReservationBill passing in the Rajya Sabha today after the Lok Sabha and thanks to the MPs for their support. Thanks to Honorable Prime Minister @narendramodi ji."

Congress MP KC Venugopal said that the party is happy but also demanded that the major amendments should be made to include OBC reservation. He also expressed his “disappointment” and said that the implementation should have been done for 2024 Lok Sabha elections but the central government denied it.  

"We are happy that the bill is passed but we have put two major amendments, first is to include OBC reservation, which the govt denied and second is to implement the bill immediately. Our demand was to do it for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, which was also denied by the govt. This is a little disappointing," KC Venugopal said.

Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda reacted to the passage of the bill in Rajya Sabha and said, "The importance of this bill would have increased if it was implemented in this (2024 Lok Sabha) elections. We have no idea when the bill will be implemented...after census or delimitation? There were demands from the OBC community which the govt did not approve. We demand the bill to be implemented immediately."

JMM MP Mahua Maji said, "This is a historic moment. Everyone has supported this bill, no one was against this. We all wanted the bill to be implemented immediately and include OBC reservations as well."

Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan called the passage of the bill “historic”. "The bill has been passed in both House. This is a historic moment the women in our country. We demanded the bill to be implemented immediately and include OBC reservations as well," Ranjan said, as quoted by ANI.

BJP MP Poonam Mahajan said, "Let Congress call it 'jumla' or whatever they want, they anyways do not give tickets to women. How many women MPs are there in Congress? For the first time, BJP has given full-time women Defence and Finance ministers," as quoted by ANI.

BJP MP Diya Kumari thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that this piece of legislation was the need of the hour and PM Modi realised it. “Women are celebrating today. We are very happy with the passage of this Bill. PM Modi has finally made this dream come true. This piece of legislation was the need of the hour and he (PM Modi) realised it. He spearheaded efforts to have the Bill tabled and passed in all of two days," as quoted by ANI.