It will be taken up for discussion today at 11:00 am.
BJP and Opposition leaders are facing of against each other after Congress leader Sonia Gandhi demanded OBC and SC quota under the Women's Reservation Bill while speaking during the Lok Sabha debate on the Bill. Highlighting the sacrifices and accomplishments of Indian women, Mrs Gandhi credited former PM Rajiv Gandhi for introducing reservations in local bodies.
"The Congress demands that the Bill be implemented as soon as possible. We also demand an immediate caste census and quota for Scheduled Caste, OBC in the women's reservation bill," she said. BJP's Nishikant Dubey dubbed the demand an attempt to divert from the Bill and seek credit for the Women's Bill. "The Congress has never spoken about OBC reservation before. These new things are being brought up now to seek political angles," he said.
The Bill proposes to reserve 33% of seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women. It was introduced in the Lok Sabha yesterday during the ongoing special session of Parliament. It will be taken up for discussion today at 11:00 am.
Here are the LIVE updates on Women's Reservation Bill debate:
27 Women MPs Joined Quota Bill Debate In Lok Sabha, All Backed It
Twenty-seven women MPs cutting across party lines spoke during the debate on the women's reservation bill in Lok Sabha on Wednesday, with BJP legislators coming out in support of it and the opposition parties also backing it while demanding its immediate implementation.
Historic Leap For Our Nation: Home Minister On Passing Of Women's Reservation Bill
The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam Is A Historic Legislation: PM Modi
Lok Sabha Adjourned To Meet Again Tomorrow At 11:00 AM
Women's Reservation Bill Passes In Lok Sabha
The Women's Reservation Bill, which seeks to provide 33% reservation to women in Parliament and Vidhan Sabhas, passes in Lok Sabha. The Lok Sabha manually voted and 454 MPs voted in favour of the bill and two MPs voted against.
Home Minister Amit Shah Explains The Need For Delimitation Before Implementing The Bill
"The women of India will now have a role to play in policy making," says Home Minister Amit Shah on Women's Reservation Bill
Request All Parties To Come Together, Pass This Bill: Amit Shah"I want to request all parties to come together and help pass this bill for women empowerment. Currently, there are MPs from the OBC, General, SC and ST categories. We are giving vertical reservation of 33% in the three categories. The Delimitation Commission is an important body for poll process in the country. If we are reserving a third seats, then you'll question it. Therefore, the Delimitation Commission should do it. The idea is to ensure transparency. Some people on social media are forming opinions and are saying that don't support the bill because of no reservation to the OBCs and Muslims and that it needs delimitation. Even if you don't support, it won't come before 2029. At least begin the process. After the election, Census and delimitation will happen," Amit Shah said.
Amit Shah On Why BJP Brought Women's Quota Bill"Many people in this House said many things on the bill and I'd reply to them and I request them not to take it personally. This is the fifth attempt to bring this bill. From HD Devegowda to Manmohan Singh, what were the reasons it failed to get approval? It was first presented in 1996 under HD Devegowda's tenure. At that time Congress was in the Opposition, after presenting it in the Parliament, the bill was sent to the Joint Parliamentary Committee, but was lapsed. When Atal Behari Vajpayee was PM in 1998, it failed again. Then in the 13th Lok Sabha when Mr Vajpayee was PM again, there was no discussion on this bill. But today I don't want to blame anyone. During Manmohan Singh's tenure, it was cleared in Rajya Sabha but was never presented in Lok Sabha. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said it is not lapsed, but it is lapsed. That's why we brought the bill.," Amit Shah said.
Amit Shah Lists Steps Taken By BJP Government Towards Empowering Women"Over 11 crore toilets were built and it's our effort in the direction of women empowerment. We gave free cooking gas connections to 10 crore households. Three crore women got houses and PM Modi did this to empower women. We provided safe drinking water to 12 crore households under the "Nal Se Jal" scheme. We ensured 26 weeks of paid maternity leave to women. Many women MPs said we should give reservations to women and not belittle them but the society's structure is such that we need this bill so that they are part of policy-making process. Durga, Saraswati and Laxmi are the different forms of women and are a part of our culture. The problem is that their (Oppoition_ roots are not attached to India and I don't want to say where they are attached to," Amit Shah said.
Women Empowerment Not Political Agenda For BJP: Amit Shah"The women of India will now have a role to play in policy making. For some parties, women empowerment, is a political agenda, but for BJP it is not. After 30 years, India gave full majority to this government and when PM Modi had to form the govt, he had to resign as the Chief Minister (of Gujarat). When he resigned, he gave all the money he had in his bank for the education daughters of all those working in the Gujarat Secretariat. "Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao" reduced the difference in sex ratio. The dropout ratio in primary education dropped... For women, security and honour is important and the day PM Modi took oath, it became the BJP government's top priority," Amit Shah said.
"Golden Moment In India's History": Amit Shah On Women's Quota Bill
"This is a golden moment in India's history. Yesterday, we entered the new Parliament on Ganesh Chaturthi and women's quota bill was also presented in Lok Sabha yesterday. I want to thank PM Modi for honouring women. Once this Constitutional amendment is cleared, the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and all Vidhan Sabhas of the country will reserve 33% of seats for women. This will end a long battle for women's rights," Amit Shah said.
Women Of India Will Have Role In Policymaking: Amit Shah's Top QuotesHome Minister Amit Shah criticised the Opposition today over the women's quota bill for playing politics. Women empowerment is not a political agenda for the BJP, though it may be for the Opposition, he said.
Read the Home Minister's
top quotes in Parliament today
Watch: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman On Success Of Chandrayaan-3 Mission
"Goddess Lakshmi took constitutional form through Women's Quota Bill": Smriti Irani in Parliament
BJP's Smriti Irani Hits Out At Opposition Over Women's Reservation Bill
BJP Leader and Union Minister Smriti Irani Speaks In Lok Sabha
Watch: Sonia Gandhi vs BJP In Lok Sabha On Women's Reservation Bill
"Will Leapfrog India Into...": UN Women On Women's Reservation BillThe UN Women has said reserving 33 per cent seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies will "leapfrog India into one of 64 countries" that have reservation for women in their national parliaments. In a statement, the UN Women said achieving a critical mass of 30 per cent representation for women in Parliament is known to yield positive outcomes for women's empowerment. "This quota reserving 33 per cent seats for women will leapfrog India into one of 64 countries around the world who have reserved seats for women in their national parliaments," UN Women India Country Representative Susan Ferguson said.
"Told Me To Go Home": NCP's Supriya Sule On Women's Reservation Bill"The BJP head in Maharashtra once told me "Supriya Sule ghar jao, khaana banao (go home and cook food)." What is this special session when the bill cannot come into effect before delimitation? We could have talked about drought or other issues. What is the timeline of this bill?," she asked.
"In Support Of Women's Reservation": Bihar Chief Minister Nitish KumarBihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar reiterated the Congress's demand to carve out a OBC, SC/ST quota under the Women's Reservation Bill to ensure higher representation. "I have been in support of women's reservation. Why should they not be assured representation? My speeches during the days I was a member of parliament bear testimony to my stand that remains unchanged," he said
BSP chief Mayawati On Women's Reservation Bill
According to this bill the reservation will not be provided to women in the country in the coming 15-16 years. After the passing of this bill, it wouldn't be implemented immediately. First, a census in the country would be conducted and after this delimitation of seats would be done. A census takes a lot of time...After this, only this bill would be implemented...It is clear that this bill is not brought with an intention to give reservations to women. But to give an allurement to the women before the upcoming elections.
President Droupadi Murmu on Women's reservation bill
We have ensured a minimum of 33 per cent reservation for women in local bodies' election... In a more pleasant coincidence, a proposal to provide a similar reservation for women in state assemblies and national Parliament is taking shape now. It will be the most transformative revolution in our times for gender justice.
BJP MP Tejasvi Surya on the Women's Reservation Bill
The last nine years have seen tremendous improvement in the condition of women especially socially and economically thanks to the important interventions of the PM Modi Government. Starting from Jan Dhan accounts to Poshan Abhiyan to the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, houses being given in the name of the women of the household to increasing allocation of budgets for scholarships for women and children...All of them were done with the intention of uplifting and empowering the women of the country...The Government has given a historic 33% reservation in all elected bodies at the level of Parliament and Assemblies.
Sonia Gandhi's Top Quotes On Women's Reservation BillOpening the debate on the Women's Reservation Bill for the opposition in Lok Sabha today, Congress' Sonia Gandhi demanded its immediate implementation along with the provision for the representation of SCs, STs and OBCs.
"My Heart Sank When...": DMK Leader Kanimozhi On Women's Reservation Bill"My heart sank afer knowing that the Bill will be implemented only after delimitation. Why should the delimitation be attached to the implementation of the Bill?," the DMK leader said.
WATCH LIVE: Debate On Women's Reservation Bill In Lok Sabha
"This Bill Is Of BJP, PM Modi": Nishikant Dubey Attacks Congress
"Congress is seeking to spoil the atmosphere of the country. I had hoped Soniaji would rise above politics. The Congress is looking to get credit for the bill. This Bill is of the BJP and PM Modi. RJD and Samajwadi Party do not want this Bill to pass so they speak of OBC reservation to divert from the topic," BJP's Nishikant Dubey said.
"Didn't Speak About OBC Reservation Before": BJP's Attack On Sonia Gandhi's Quote DemandBJP's Nishikant Dubey hits out at Sonia Gandhi for seeking OBC, SC quota under the Women's Reservation Bill. "The Congress has never spoken about OBC reservation before. These new things are being brought up now to seek political angles," he alleged.
"We Demand Immediate Caste Census": Sonia Gandhi
"The Congress demands that the Bill be implemented as soon as possible. We also demand an immediate caste census and quota for Scheduled Caste, OBC in the women's reservation bill," she said.
"First Introduced By Rajiv Gandhi": Sonia Gandhi On Reservation In Local Bodies"Reservation in local bodies was first introduced by my life partner Rajiv Gandhi. Rajiv Gandhi's dream still remains half-fulfilled. This passage of this bill will complete it," she said.
BREAKING: "I Stand To Support The Bill": Sonia Gandhi On Women's Quota
Congress Leader Sonia Gandhi Speaks In Lok Sabha On Women's Reservation Bill
"Will Fully Cooperate": M Kharge Asks To Rectify Loopholes In Women's Quota Bill
Congress president and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday said that the Opposition will fully cooperate with the debate on the Women's Reservation Bill while questioning the "intentions" of Centre in bringing the same.
He also alleged that the Central government is publicizing the Bill in view of elections. He further insisted on bringing the Bill to implementation and added that the loopholes and drawbacks should be rectified.
"In 2010, we had passed the Bill in Rajya Sabha. But it failed to be passed by the Lok Sabha. That is why, this is not a new Bill. Had they taken that Bill forward, it would have been done quickly by this day. I feel that they are publicising this in view of elections but actually unless the delimitation or census takes place. You can feel how long it is going to take," Mr Kharge said.