Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his ''delight'' after the Lok Sabha unanimously passed The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023 following a day-long debate on Wednesday. PM Modi praised the overwhelming support and took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to thank all Lok Sabha MPs for supporting the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam' Bill.
"Delighted at the passage of The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023 in the Lok Sabha with such phenomenal support. I thank MPs across Party lines who voted in support of this Bill. The 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam' is historic legislation which will further boost women empowerment and will enable even greater participation of women in our political process", tweeted PM Modi.
The Prime Minister's response came soon after the Lok Sabha unanimously passed the Women's Reservation Bill, which included a 33% reservation for women in both the Lok Sabha and state legislatures. Following a thorough explanation by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023 was approved.
During the division, 454 members supported the legislation, while two voted against it. The Opposition's proposed amendments were rejected, and the bill's various clauses were voted on. Speaker Om Birla finally announced the Bill's successful passage.
The 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam' is the Lok Sabha's first bill since its relocation to the new Parliament building on Tuesday. The bill was approved by a majority of the House's total membership and a majority of not less than two-thirds of House members "present and voting." The division was accomplished by distributing slips.
Meghwal stated that the bill's passage was making "history." He dismissed the Opposition's criticism of the Bill's implementation delays, claiming that the bill ensures transparency. The bill was approved following a day-long debate led by Congress leader Sonia Gandhi.
Following its passage through the Lok Sabha, the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023 is expected to be debated in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
During the Congress-led UPA government, the Rajya Sabha had previously passed the Women's Reservation Bill in 2010. However, it was not debated in the Lok Sabha and thus died in the lower House of Parliament.
The new bill was introduced by the government on Tuesday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi announcing the intention to introduce the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam.'