‘33% reservation is call of the hour’—Modi urges Oppn to ‘take credit, but give women their due rights’

In his I-Day speech, PM remarks that the political dream of women's reservation had become a victim to the 'arena of politics'.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaking at the Red Fort on India's 80th Independence Day | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a fresh pitch Saturday for the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill to implement women’s reservation in the Lok Sabha and Assemblies, a proposal the Opposition sees as subterfuge for delimitation to redraw the boundaries of electoral constituencies.

Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the country’s 80th Independence Day, he appealed to all political parties to extend their support towards implementing 33 percent reservation for women.

Speaking about how the Bill was stalled in Parliament earlier this year, Modi remarked that this political dream had become a victim to the “arena of politics”. Highlighting achievements of women in various fields, the PM said that India’s daughters are always ahead in every field—be it STEM or sports.

“We passed the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam in Parliament. However, for one reason or another, this dream has consistently fallen victim to the political arena over the past 40 years,” Modi said.

Saying that implementing the reservation is “the need of the hour”, he urged all political parties to “join in honouring women by implementing women’s reservation”.

“Standing here today beneath the Tricolour on the ramparts of the Red Fort, I appeal to and urge all the political parties of the country: come, become champions of women’s empowerment. Step forward to honour women and ensure that our mothers and sisters secure 33 percent representation in the Legislative Assemblies and the Lok Sabha as soon as possible,” he said.

The prime minister told the Opposition that they may “take the credit themselves”, but should give women “their due rights”. “Let them contribute to shaping India’s policies… You may take the credit, you may claim the accolades, but please grant our mothers and sisters their due rights,” he said.

Modi added that the government was aiming to give the benefit of the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ scheme to three crore women, but has already surpassed that target and is now aiming to provide benefits to six crore women.

The Modi government had been pushing for the passage of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill that proposes to enlarge Lok Sabha’s strength and conduct a delimitation exercise, but it was defeated in April after failing to secure a two-thirds majority in Parliament, with opposition parties coming together to vote against it. This marked the first such legislative defeat for the Modi government in 12 years. While 298 votes were received in its favour, 230 went against.

According to sources, the Bharatiya Janata Party was hoping to make a fresh push in the Monsoon Session, which was ultimately marred by disruptions in the aftermath of the youth protest over NEET-UG leak and exam irregularities, and the subsequent crackdown by authorities.

(Edited by Mannat Chugh)