Special Parliament session Highlights: ‘…lambe samay tak keemat chukani padegi’ – Modi says for those who oppose Bill

Special Parliament session: The updates to this blog have now been closed

PM Modi said that he does not want credit for women’s reservation bill. “If you are saying that the women’s reservation bill might give me political leverage, you are right, but if you want credit for it, I am ready to give a blank cheque to you for taking credit,” said PM Modi

After his speech was interrupted by TMC leader Kalyan Banerjee, PM Modi took a swipe at him, saying, ‘let him speak, nobody lets him talk there’

Special Parliament session LIVE: PM Modi said that even though he comes from the OBC community, his “responsibility is to take everyone forward together”.

“That is what the constitution has taught me,” he added further.

Special Parliament session LIVE: PM Modi in his speech, urged all MPs to support the women quota bil. “Let us all MPs not miss this important opportunity to give reservation to women: PM Modi in Lok Sabha,” he said

During his speech in Lok Sabha, PM Modi said that “whoever opposes the Bill now, would pay the price for a long time.”
“Whoever opposes now, usko lambe samay tak keemat chukani padegi,” said PM Modi

Special Parliament session LIVE: “I consider this bill to be one of the most important moment in parliament’s history,” said PM Modi

Special Parliament session LIVE: Chants of ‘Bharat Mata ki jai’ fillled the Lok Sabha as PM Modi arrived in the Lower House of the Parliament

Special Parliament session LIVE: PM Modi has arrived in the Lok Sabha, and has begun his speech

Special Parliament session LIVE: PM Modi to speak in Lok Sabha around 3 pm on women’s reservation bill, delimitation

In the Lok Sabha on Thursday, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav says in favour of women’s reservation but against NDA’s ‘chaalbazi’ (trickery)

On the proposed Delimitation Bill and Women’s Reservation Bill, BJP leader K Annamalai says, “Tamil Nadu stands to benefit from women’s reservation and constituency delimitation. However, MK Stalin is said to be promoting a misleading narrative by taking a rigid stance that reservations should not be provided to women. The people of Tamil Nadu do not seem to trust this position. As evidence of this, it is claimed that no households have hoisted black flags in protest… It is difficult to understand why the DMK opposes women’s reservation. In general, political parties do not provide sufficient opportunities for women. Therefore, opposing women’s reservation is a misguided stance.”

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor says, “The issue is very simple. The govt has a plan to re-delimit the constituencies to increase the number of seats in the areas where the ruling party is strong. They are using women’s reservation to bring about that change. This is political demonetisation.”

Right now, Akhilesh Yadav is speaking in the Lok Sabha.

According to the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, Lok Sabha seats will be increased to a maximum of 850 from the current 543 to “operationalise” the women’s reservation law before the 2029 parliamentary polls, following a delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census.

Seats will also be increased in state and Union territory assemblies to accommodate 33 per cent reservation for women.

The seats reserved for women in the Lok Sabha and legislative assemblies “shall be allotted by rotation to different constituencies in a state or Union territory”, the draft bill circulated among Lok Sabha members said.

BJP leader Tejasvi Surya said that parties currently in the opposition delayed and disrupted the process, ensuring the bill did not see the light of day. He added that the bill had been stalled for 30 years.
He added, “30 saal ke liye atke rha tha (the bill had been stalled for 30 years.)

Congress’ K C Venugopal questioned why the proposed changes in the women’s quota law were not incorporated when it was passed earlier by Parliament.

“Bills to tweak the women’s quota law and set up a delimitation panel are anti-constitutional,” he said.

On the Women’s Reservation Act, BJP MP Shashank Mani Tripathi told ANI, “This is a very important bill. We should not delay it. If we want it to be based solely on the 2026 census, then this women’s act will be postponed for another five years, which is a danger for women, for the country, and for the world… I am fully confident that everyone will pass it unanimously.”

Speaking in Lok Sabha on the three bills, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal says, “The women’s reservation bill was passed in 2023, providing for implementing its provisions based on census after 2026 and delimitation. There will be an equal, 50 per cent increase in the strength of Lok Sabha members, and this will translate to 815 seats, of which 272 will be reserved for women, which comes to one-third of the strength of the House. There will be no loss to anyone (states), and they will retain their strength.”

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi says, “…You are again and again creating hurdles for women’s reservation. If you had listened to us in 2023, women’s reservation would have been implemented in 2024. We are urging that women’s reservation should not be linked with delimitation. If you do that, we will definitely support it. This bill is not for women’s reservation, but it is for delimitation through the back door.”

Women’s reservation should be implemented on current strength of Lok Sabha — 543; it must not be linked to delimitation: Cong’s Gaurav Gogoi.

“Somewhere, you are not actually in favour of women’s reservation, so that it gets delayed. You are making things complicated that could be done simply. If you had listened in 2024, women’s reservation could have been implemented. Even today, we are saying, don’t link it with delimitation, bring it to 243 seats, and we will fully support it. “You do politics in everything and engage in symbolic politics,” said Congress leader Gogoi.

Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi said that about 90% of the speech delivered by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal was the same as a speech made by Amit Shah three years ago.

Gogoi said, “Sonia Gandhi had said that the Congress supports the proposal, but it should not be linked with delimitation, and that it should be implemented in the 2024 elections. At that time, the Home Minister said that delimitation would be necessary for it.”

He also quoted Amit Shah’s earlier speech, saying, “As soon as the Lok Sabha elections are over (2024), the census will be conducted, delimitation will take place, and women’s reservation will be implemented.”

Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal in Lok Sabha said that seats of all states will be increased by 50%. Total Lok sabha seat would be 815. 272 seats reserved for women.

On women’s reservation bill, Congress MP Rajeev Shukla says, “All opposition parties have collectively decided that we are in support of women’s reservation, we want reservation for women. We stand with the proposal that was passed in 2023, but through delimitation, they want to conspire to scatter all sections and damage the constitutional framework, and we oppose that.”

Speaking in Lok Sabha, Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, “The two bills have been brought together to take women’s reservation to its logical end…

Home Minister is speaking on Congress MP Venugopal’s objection to the motion moved by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal

Speaking in Lok Sabha, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju says, “The discussion will be held for 12 hours. The speaker should have the authority to extend the time for discussion. The voting on the bills will be done tomorow.”

Speaker Om Birla says, “Discussion on these three bills will be held for 15-18 hours. Voting on these bills will be done at 4 pm tomorrow.”Voting on the three bills is scheduled for tomorrow at 4 PM. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju proposed allocating 12 hours for the debate, adding that the discussion could be extended further with the Speaker’s approval if needed.

Constitution amendment bill to tweak women quota law introduced in Lok Sabha after division of votes. The bill got 251 votes in favour and 185 against.

Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora says, “On behalf of Shiv Sena, we have extended full support to the government of India, and we thank the PM for bringing these amendments. The Delimitation Bill is the need of the hour. We have full faith that with the new legislation, women’s reservation and delimitation will be a reality across Lok Sabha seats and state assemblies. Some states have genuine concerns about how the seat share will increase. The govt will assure the people on the floor of the House that if there is a blanket 50% increase, then the same will proportiton that exists between southern and northern states will continue. So then there is no fear for any states…”

According to the draft Constitution amendment bill, Lok Sabha seats will be increased to a maximum of 850 from the current 543 to “operationalise” the women’s reservation law before the 2029 parliamentary polls, following a delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census.

The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026 has been introduced in the Lok Sabha after voting.

Opposition presses for division of votes to introduce bill to tweak women quota law.

On Women’s Reservation Bill, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje says, “Today is a very important day for us… We have been demanding women’s reservation for a very long time… Under PM Modi’s leadership, work is being done to provide reservations for women’s power. After this, the situation will become very good…

On the proposed delimitation bill, she says, “… There are different ways to conduct census in different states…”

On Women’s Reservation Bill and proposed delimitation bill, Rajya Sabha MP Ujjwal Nikam says, “The initiation of the delimitation process is essential for Indian democracy. Women’s power will gain rights from this… Considering the population of women in our country today, it is very necessary for their empowerment that this bill be passed. I am fully confident that this bill will definitely pass.”

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Thursday protested against the Centre, raising strong objections to the proposed delimitation bill that aims for a wider political overhaul.

The Constitutional Amendment bill’s implementation is tied to a population-based revision of constituencies based on the 2011 census. It proposes delimitation – a wider political overhaul – aiming to change the size and composition of state legislative assemblies and Lok Sabha.

Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till tomorrow, to meet again on Friday, 17 April, 2026 at 11 am.

The Opposition members in Lok Sabha have pressed for division against the move to introduce the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026. DMK MP TR Baalu, AIMIM MP Owaisi are among the Opposition MPs who are opposing the the introduction of the bills. TMC and CPI-M are opposing the bills, reported ANI.

On women’s reservation bill & proposed Delimitation Bill, Congress MP Sonia Gandhi says, “My party has made its position clear. I have nothing to add.”

In Lok Sabha, Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav says, “We oppose the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 and Delimitation Bill, 2026…There is no other party which is a bigger supporter of women’s reservation.”

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi says the bills completely erase the representation of Muslims and OBCs from the electoral legislature.

‘Govt is changing constitutional mandate,’ says NK Premchandran, RSP, Kollam

Akhilesh Yadav questioned why the government was not conducting a census, prompting Amit Shah to respond that the entire country is watching the proceedings and that certain statements could create public concern. He added that the census process has already begun.

Akhilesh reiterated the demand for a caste census, while Shah said “the government has already decided to carry it out”.

He clarified that the current phase involves counting households, which do not have a caste, and that caste details will be included when the population census is conducted.

Bills to tweak women quota law, set up delimitation panel are ‘anti-constitutional’: Cong’s Venugopal in LS.

SP leader Dharmendra Yadav said that under the guise of the women’s bill, the Centre is attempting to do to the entire country what, according to him, was done in Kashmir and Assam, and added that his party strongly opposes it.

Bills tabled by Shah and Meghwal are fundamental attack on federal structure , KC Venugopal in Lok Sabha

Three major bills are expected to be introduced. These include a proposal to reserve seats for women in the Lok Sabha elections from 2029 and another bill to redraw constituency boundaries.

The opposition has raised concerns over the proposed changes, particularly the plan to redraw constituencies and increase the number of Lok Sabha seats from the current 543 to a maximum of 850.

On Women’s Reservation Bill & proposed Delimitation Bill, Congress leader Imran Masood says, “We support women’s reservation… They are now bringing delimitation… This will create an imbalance in a federal structure… The delimitation commission will have unlimited power… States that have controlled their population will have to suffer after this. This will create a sense of regional imbalance…”

On Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju’s statement, he says, “…We gave the right to information and education… You promised employment, but a protest is going on in Noida. You only conduct events…”

The INDIA bloc and other opposition parties that are expected to vote against the bill comprise Congress (with 98 MPs), Samajwadi Party (37), Trinamool Congress (28), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (22), Shiv Sena (UBT) (9), NCP (SP) (8), and others such as Rashtriya Janata Dal with two MPs, Communist Party of India (Marxist) (4), Aam Aadmi Party (3), Muslim League, and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha with three MPs each, CPI(ML)L and National Conference with two MPs each, along with smaller parties, including Azad Samaj Party-Kanshiram (1).

The BJP-led NDA, which is in favour of the Constitutional Bill, enjoys support from the Telugu Desam Party (with 16 MPs), Janata Dal (United) (12), Shiv Sena (7), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) (5), YSRCP (4), and the Janata Dal (Secular), Jana Sena Party, and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), with two MPs each.

The Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) has one MP in the Lok Sabha.

With this tally, the passing of the Bill in the Lok Sabha is highly likely. (ANI)