New Delhi [India]: Heaping praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the historic passage of the women’s reservation Bill in Parliament on Thursday, Union Minister Smriti Irani said the legislative feat only goes to show that “Modi Hai Toh Mumkin Hai” (Nothing is impossible when PM Modi is there) is not a mere saying.
The Bill, which cleared its final legislative hurdle at the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, guarantees 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha as well as the state legislative assemblies.
Speaking to media on Thursday after the long-desired piece of legislation finally saw the light of day, Irani, the Union Women and Child Development Minister, said, “We have often come across the saying Modi hai toh mumkin hai . Today, the PM has again proved that these aren’t hollow words.”
A day after it was cleared in the Lok Sabha, the Upper House on Thursday passed the women’s reservation bill, aptly titled Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, unanimously with 214 members voting in support and none against.
Following the passage of the bill, both Houses of Parliament were adjourned sine die.
Meanwhile, women MPs took turns to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the passage of the draft legislation.
Women members from both Houses of Parliament were all smiles as they presented a bouquet to Prime Minister Modi on the historic passage of the Bill in Parliament.
Later, both the Houses of Parliament were adjourned sine die.
Earlier, on Wednesday, the Bill aced the legislative test in the Lok Sabha as it was passed by a brute majority of 454 votes in favour and just 2 against.
Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal gave a brief reply to the day-long debate on the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023 in the upper House of Parliament and said it will be implemented after following due process.
Ahead of the voting, PM Modi urged the Rajya Sabha members to pass the Bill unanimously.
He said the Bill will lead to a new confidence in the people of the country.
“All members and political parties have played a significant role in empowering women and enhancing ‘Nari Shakti’. Let us give the country a strong message,” he said.
The Rajya Sabha had earlier passed the Women’s Reservation Bill in 2010 during the Congress-led UPA government but it was not taken up in the Lok Sabha and subsequently lapsed in the lower House of Parliament.
