The Constitution 128th Amendment Women's Reservation Bill 2023 which seeks to give 33 per cent reservation to women in Lok Sabha and state legislative Assemblies was passed in the Parliament Special Session on Wednesday (September 20). After 7 hours of debate, the Bill received the support of 454 votes in its favour with just 2 votes against it. Several women sportspersons and artists from varied fields like dance and music and fashion paid a visit to the new Parliament building on Wednesday.
They reacted to the initiative taken by the government to introduce the bill with most of them hopefuf of it being passed even before the voting procedure started. Boxer and former Rajya Sabha MP Mary Kom told ANI: "This bill is going to be passed... We felt happy that prominent athletes were called (on this day)... The women's reservation is important for women's empowerment."
Meanwhile, India's women's hockey team player Rani Rampal was also optimistic about the bill. She reckoned that greater the participation of women, the better it will be for the country.
"Today is a very auspicious day as we got the chance to visit the new Parliament building... We would like to thank the government of India for this... We are very happy that the Women's Reservation Bill is being passed," she told ANI.
Former athlete Anju Bobby George even went on to suggest that the bill could lead to a revolution. "I think a new revolution is going to happen in India," she told ANI.
Paralympic athlete Deepa Malik, who was happy with the fact that her wheelchair could reach every part of the new Parliament building, told ANI: "Our democracy is for the people, of the people and by the people, and counting of people will be completed only when there is women's participation."
Meanwhile, legendary women's cricketer Mithali Raj was also present at the event. She told ANI: "The participation of women in governance will increase. It is a great move. We are all very happy."