Union Home Minister Amit Shah declared that women’s empowerment is not a mere political slogan for the BJP but a fundamental principle embedded in its organizational ethos. Shah made this unequivocal statement during a deliberation on the draft women’s reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha, a bill proposing 33 percent reservation for women in both the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. The bill passed with remarkable support, garnering 454 votes in favor and only 2 against its passage.
Amit Shah emphasized that the enactment of this women’s reservation Bill heralds a fresh era of “women-led development” in India. He stated, “This Bill would ensure women’s participation in policy-making, which had been pending for years. Women empowerment can be a political issue for many parties but it isn’t for the BJP. It’s ingrained in our working culture.”
The Home Minister underscored that, since the inception of the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the safety, dignity, and active involvement of women have been at the forefront of the government’s priorities.
To substantiate this commitment, Amit Shah pointed to initiatives like the ‘Jan Dhan’ accounts, where women constitute a significant 70 percent of account holders. He further cited the construction of an astounding 11 crore 72 lakh toilets across the country, a move that significantly contributes to the empowerment of women.
Shah also disclosed that 85 Members of Parliament and 29 ministers belong to the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself belonging to this category.
The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023, was passed with an overwhelming majority, marking a historic moment. Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal responded to the motion for its passage, addressing opposition criticism and highlighting the transparency inherent in the bill’s provisions.
Meghwal exclaimed, “History has been made with the passage of this draft Bill.” He firmly rejected the Opposition’s criticism regarding the delay in implementing the bill’s provisions, assuring that due procedures would be followed, and the reserved seats would be determined by the Delimitation Commission.
The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023, is now slated for discussion in the Rajya Sabha. It’s worth noting that the Rajya Sabha had previously approved the Women’s Reservation Bill in 2010 during the Congress-led UPA government, but it did not progress in the Lok Sabha and ultimately lapsed there.
This significant bill was introduced during the ongoing Special Session of Parliament, which commenced on Monday and is scheduled to run until Friday. The government’s announcement of the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’ marked the initiation of this vital legislative session.
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