Special Session Day 3: Women's Reservation Bill 2023 Passed In Lok Sabha, Complete Discussion Here

The Women's Reservation Bill [The Constitution (128th Amendment Bill)] 2023 was passed by Lok Sabha on Wednesday (20 September) with 454 votes in its favour and two votes opposing it.

Not state-specific reservation

BJD MP Bhartruhari questioned that when we are not reserving seats for women state-wise, how will we decide which states will have how many women MPs.

Amit Shah replied saying that it will be decided by delimitation commission.

Amit Shah clears doubts

Union Home Minister Amit Shah clarified that the Women's Reservation Bill will reserve one-third of the seats under all current three categories- General, SC and ST.

"Delimitation is a quasi-judicial process. Which seats will be reserved for women, delimitation commission will decide using a transparent process," Shah said further.

Rahul Gandhi demands OBC quota

While supporting the Women's Reservation Bill, Congress MP from Wayanad, Kerala demanded that a bill should be brought for OBC reservation after the caste census.

AAP supports bill

AAP MP from Jalandhar, Punjab, Sushil Kumar Rinku, expressed support for the Women's Reservation Bill. He remembered Guru Gobind Singh's mother and Bhagat Singh's mother.

He claimed that instead of bringing a new bill, if the government would have passed the 2008 bill, the women would get reservation benefits immediately.

AIUDF gives credit to Rajiv Gandhi

AIUDF MP from Dhubri, Assam, Badruddin Ajmal while supporting bill said that one must give credit to Rajiv Gandhi for Women's Reservation Bill. He applauded Rahul Gandhi for his Bharat Jodo Yatra that "bothered BJP".

"Bill reflection of Sanatana Dharma"

Independent MP from Mandya, Karnataka, Sumalatha Ambareesh remembered the state's women warriors and called the bill a reflection of Sanatana Dharma.

Navneet Rana questions Congress

On claims by Congress leaders including Sonia Gandhi that this bill is brought by them, Navneet Ravi Rana questioned if indeed that was the party's intent, why couldn't they bring it in 27 years, while BJP brought it in nine years.

Hanuman Beniwal questions BJP manifesto

RLP MP from Nagaur, Rajasthan, Hanuman Beniwal said that BJP mentioned the Women's Reservation Bill in its 2014 manifesto but is bringing it now and will be implemented only after a few years.

He demanded that OBC women should also be given reservation. He asked that from which election onwards women reservation will be implemented.

Chirag Paswan answers "distractions"

LJSP MP from Jamui, Bihar, Chirag Paswan said that distractions are being used to delay the Women's Reservation Bill. He was pointing towards complaints of delay in implementation and demands of reservation for backward caste women.

AIMIM opposes bill

Questioning why the Women's Reservation Bill is not being extended to OBC and minority women, AIMIM MP from Hyderabad, Asaduddin Owaisi opposed the bill. He said that this bill is only for 'Savarna women'.

IUML "indebted to UPA government"

IUML MP from Ponnani, Kerala, ET Mohammed Basheer expressed gratitude towards UPA government and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi for women's reservation bill.

"Census due in 2027, after that delimitation exercise will take place, then only reservation will be implemented. Thus, it should be called escape route bill," he said attacking BJP.

"In details lies devil"

SAD MP from Bathinda, Punjab, Harsimrat Kaur Badal questioned shroud of secrecy around women reservation bill and the urgency about it when it will not be implemented before delimitation which is pending on census.

She said that she was excited about it but found fault in details. She supported the bill but wants immediate implementation. She mentioned that crime against women increased by 26 per cent in the past five years.

CPI (M) gives credit to women activists

CPI (M) MP from Alappuzha, Kerala, Adv AM Ariff while supporting women's reservation bill said that the credit goes to women activists including comrade Brinda Karat.

He targeted BJP for bringing this bill "after 4.5 years of its second tenure", using "lotus symbol in G20 logo" and "portraying Chandrayaan-3 success as its political success".

Smriti Irani thanks Jan Sangh leaders

BJP Minister Smriti Irani thanked Sushma Swaraj, Najma Heptulla, Kiran Maheshwari, Sumitra Mahajan, Rajnath Singh, G Kishen Reddy and Bal Apte.

She pointed that this bill guarantees reservation to women for 15 years, while the bill brought by Congress said, "No seat shall be reserved for women in the third general election."

She quoted Constitution to answer why women reservation will be implemented after 2026. She also said that the Constitution prohibits reservation based on religion, hence there is no question of minority reservation.

"Pride to belong to Trinamool Congress"

AITC MP from Krishnanaagr, West Bengal, Mahua Moitra expressed her pride to belong to a party that sends 37 per cent of women to the parliament, while simultaneously expressing disgrace for a very few number of female MPs overall.

She claims that forget 2024, this bill will not come to light even by 2029and hence, it should be called Women's Reservation "Rescheduling" Bill. She calls the bill "a sham". She calls Mamata Banerjee "mother of this bill".

"Congress prioritised saving government over bill"

BJP MP from Domariyaganj, Uttar Pradesh, Jagdambika Pal said that while the Congress is claiming that it brought women reservation bill earlier, the party should ask itself why it couldn't get passed.

He said that the opposing parties snatched the bill from minister's hand and the UPA government didn't pass the bill just to save the government because it lacked commitment.

YSRCP asks to review clauses

Dr BV Satyavathi asked to review clause which says, "The reservation will be provided for a period of 15 years." She said that this time limit should be reviewed by stakeholders.

She also asked to extend reservation to OBC women as recommended by a 1996 committee. "This recommendation should be reconsidered for greater inclusivity," she added.

To prevent proxy candidates and ensure genuine representation, she asked to establish stringent eligibility criteria. She also asked to extend reservation to upper houses.

J&KNC asks for OBC, minority reservation

Anantnag MP Hasnain Masoodi asked that if BJP indeed wants to give reservation to women, why is it deferring the implementation by 12-15 years. He also demanded reservation for OBCs and minorities.

Quoting from the bill, he asked why is there an ambiguity around one-third reservation by putting a phrase "as nearly as may be one-third".

"Post-dated cheque in bankrupt bank"

While stating that the DMK supports bill, Chennai South MP Dr T Sumathy said that it's "a post-dated cheque in a bankrupt bank" because of unsurity about its culmination and lots of "ifs and buts".

She also opposed Hindi name of the bill "Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam". She questioned, "What is this Hindi-sassing? Why not in English?"

Dimple Yadav targets BJP

Samajwadi Party (SP) MP from Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh, Dimple Yadav questioned whether the Women Reservation Bill will be implemented in the upcoming Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha elections or not.

She targeted BJP for bringing this bill in the last year of the government's tenure and questioned the Centre's intentions for caste census and timelines of census and delimitation.

Supriya Sule gives credit to Sharad Pawar

NCP MP from Baramati, Maharashtra, Supriya Sule said that Sharad Pawar was the one to implement women reservation in Panchayati Raj elections in the state and mentioned Brinda Karat's contribution to the bill.

She asked why this special session was called when the bill is to be implemented only after 2026, it could be passed in winter session. She also questioned timeframe of the census and delimitation.

"Bill is women's dil"

Shiv Sena MP Bhawana Gawali (Patil) said that this bill is women's dil (heart) and by bringing it, Modi ji has opened the way for opportunities for them.

BRS MP praises KCR

BRS MP from Khammam, Telangana, Nama Nageswara Rao while supporting bill said that when Telangana was formed in 2014, KCR government sent a resolution for women's reservation to the centre.

BSP supports bill

BSP MP from Lalganj, Uttar Pradesh, Sangeeta Azad recalled Baba Saheb (BR Ambedkar) and Kanshi Ram's contributions to bringing women from backward classes into politics.

JD(U) supports bill

JD(U) MP from Munger, Bihar, Ravi Ranjan Singh (Lalan) while supporting women's reservation claimed that BJP bringing this bill is a "panic reaction to INDI Alliance".

Kiren Rijiju counters Kakoli Ghosh

Kiren Rijiju countered Kakoli Ghosh's claim that ISRO scientists are not getting regular salaries. He said that ISRO's women scientists have expressed that they are getting best support under PM Modi's leadership.

"Realisation of Mamata Banerjee's vision"

AITC MP Dr Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar expressed delight over the recognition of "women's rightful entitlements" and said that Mamata Banerjee "passionately advocated for the implementation of women's reservation".

She claimed that Trinamool Congress has more women in state assembly than anywhere else in the country and nearly 40 per cent of women members in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

DMK quotes Periyar

DMK MP from Thootukuddi, Tamil Nadu, Kanimozhi Karunanidhi said that in 1929, EVR (Periyar) passed a resolution insisting on reservation for women in education, employment and politics in self-respect conference.

She highlighted that Women's Reservation Bill was first brought with the support of DMK during the United Front government in 1996.

Nishikant's Dubey answer

BJP MP from Godda, Jharkhand, Nishikant Dubey explained why the Women's Reservation Bill will come to light only after 2026 citing Article 82(a).

He asked Sonia Gandhi to not take credit for the bill and said that their bill was wrong. "Those who worked for it are Gita Mukherjee, Sushma Swaraj... The goal is registered in the name of the player who hits the goal. This bill is of BJP," he added.

Amit Shah's statement

Union Home Minister Amit Shah answered Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury who questioned BJP leader Nishikant Dubey's address on the Women's Reservation Bill.

He said, "If we don't want men to talk about women's rights, what kind of society we are thinking of. All have a right to think about women's rights. Bhaiyo (brothers) have this right."

Congress supports Bill

Congress MP Sonia Gandhi expressed the party's support for the bill while requesting the initiation of a caste census and the inclusion of provisions catering to women from marginalized communities.

She underscored the historical contributions of eminent figures, including Sarojini Naidu, Sucheta Kripalani, Aruna Asaf Ali, Vijayalakshmi Pandit, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur and others who ardently labored to manifest the vision of a harmonious India as envisioned by Mahatma Gandhi and Babasaheb Ambedkar.

Bill moved

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal moved the Women's Reservation Bill 2023 [The Constitution (128th Amendment) Bill] in Lok Sabha on Wednesday (20 September).