Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Thursday, took a sharp jibe at the Opposition, stating that he is ready to “write a blank cheque” for them to take credit on the Women’s Reservation Bill.
“If you oppose me, it’s obvious that it will get me the political benefit, but if you support us, no one will benefit,” said PM Modi. He added, “We don’t want the credit [of bringing this law]…if you want credit for it, I am ready to give a blank cheque to you for taking credit.”
PM Modi further said that if the Bill is passed, he is ‘ready to get hoardings made with everyone’s photo’, using government funds.
Formally known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, the Women’s Reservation Bill proposes reserving 33% of seats in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies for women through a constitutional amendment.
Women’s Reservation Bill
The government is planning to implement the women’s reservation ahead of the 2029 General Elections by bringing in an amendment to the 2023 Act and a constitutional amendment to delink the delimitation process from the 2027 census.
While the women’s reservation bill was passed in 2023 unanimously, the government did not implement it. The amendment in the bill will focus on implementing a women’s quota in the parliament as well as the delimitation and revision of Lok Sabha seats based on the 2011 census.
During his address in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, PM Modi also warned, “Those who oppose women quota bill will pay a price for a long time…Let us all MPs not miss this important opportunity to give reservation to women.”
What political leaders said?
Earlier in the day, multiple Opposition leaders criticised the Bill. DMK MP A Raja said: “It is a complete mockery to take up the Constitution amendment and delimitation bill together. This is completely undemocratic and illegal. We will oppose it.”
