New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Friday that a “strong and decisive” government was important to take the country forward, as he lauded his administration for reviving the much-delayed women’s reservation bill and passing it in Parliament with historic majority.
Addressing women workers at the BJP headquarters in Delhi Friday, Modi said: “The ‘Nari Shakti Act’ has become a reality because there is a stable government in the country with full majority. This law has again proved that a strong and decisive government with absolute majority is very necessary to take the country forward.”
The Prime Minister said the bill clearing both Houses in two successive days proved that an absolute-majority government could “take big decisions and cross big milestones”.
At Friday’s felicitation programme by the party’s women’s wing, Modi was joined on stage by BJP President J.P. Nadda, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani, BJP Mahila Morcha chief Vanathi Srinivasan and other women MPs from the party.
Hundreds of women workers gathered to listen to him after giving him a grand welcome.
Modi congratulated “every mother, sister and daughter of India” for making it possible to pass the bill. “On the 20th and 21st of September, we all witnessed history being made. We are fortunate that citizens of India gave us the opportunity to create history. This decision will be celebrated by generations to come,” he added.
Modi said his party had fulfilled its commitment to the bill, after having worked on it for three decades. “There were many obstacles, many decades-old hindrances, but when the intentions are pure, and the efforts are transparent, one can overcome obstacles and bring about results,” the PM added.
Modi also emphasised the various initiatives taken in the last nine years to give women “a life of respect, convenience, security and prosperity”.
He said the bill was evidence of “Modi’s guarantee” to the women-led development in “New India’s democratic commitment”.
Objection to ‘vandan’
During his speech, the Prime Minister also addressed objections raised by some Opposition leaders to the word “vandan” or salutation in the bill’s Hindi nomenclature.
“Should we not worship woman power? Should we men become so arrogant that we start jumping at the use of the word ‘vandana’?” the PM asked.
The 128th Constitution amendment bill, referred to as the “Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam”, will now require the approval of a majority of state assemblies. It will be implemented after a delimitation exercise to redraw parliamentary and assembly constituencies based on the next census.
Edited by Tikli Basu