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:
It is a historic leap for our nation as the Lok Sabha passes the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam' today.
- Amit Shah (@AmitShah) September 20, 2023
The bill envisaged by PM @narendramodi Ji will not only script a new chapter in the history of women's empowerment but also foster equitable and gender-inclusive development in...
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.
- Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 20, 2023
The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam is a historic legislation which...
Watch | "Those claiming to speak for OBCs should know that it is BJP which gave an OBC prime minister": Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Lok Sabha pic.twitter.com/NLi4aLr8RW
- NDTV (@ndtv) September 20, 2023
#WomenReservationBill | Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the need for the Delimitation Commission in Lok Sabha pic.twitter.com/JYvfNxf5wE
- NDTV (@ndtv) September 20, 2023
Home Minister Amit Shah in Parliament on #WomensReservationBill
- NDTV (@ndtv) September 20, 2023
Read More: https://t.co/bvURLBHqlP pic.twitter.com/XdFyTalq2z
Watch | "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": Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Parliament pic.twitter.com/uEYsDB4ZZZ
- NDTV (@ndtv) September 20, 2023
"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.
"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.
Home 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.
Watch | Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman hails success of #Chandrayaan3 in Rajya Sabha pic.twitter.com/BbtNNkhGn3
- NDTV (@ndtv) September 20, 2023
Watch | "Goddess Lakshmi took constitutional form through Women's Quota Bill": Union Minister Smriti Irani in Parliament pic.twitter.com/O26Cm12eFX
- NDTV (@ndtv) September 20, 2023
In a fiery speech in support of the Women's Reservation Bill, Trinamool Congress' Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar trained her guns on the BJP and asked why it did not act against its own MP, Brij Bhushan Singh, who is accused of sexually assaulting wrestlers.
Tamil Nadu MP Kanimozhi on Wednesday attacked the government over the "veil of secrecy (that) shrouded" the drafting and tabling of the women's reservation bill.
#WATCH | Union Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani speaks on Women's Reservation Bill in Lok Sabha pic.twitter.com/WssLzoH99G
- ANI (@ANI) September 20, 2023
Sonia Gandhi vs BJP In Lok Sabha On Women's Reservation Bill pic.twitter.com/7oGK80H8kL
- NDTV (@ndtv) September 20, 2023
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.
Opening 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 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 | Discussion on Women's Reservation Bill in the Parliament https://t.co/ei7n14ehC8
- NDTV (@ndtv) September 20, 2023
"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.
BJP'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.
"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.
Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi will lead the party's debate on the Women's Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha today.