Sonia Gandhi Set to Address Women's Reservation Bill Today as Parliamentary Disruption Persists

The Parliament witnessed intense debates on Tuesday regarding the contentious Women's Reservation Bill, with certain provisions drawing strong opposition criticism. Both Houses convened for the first time in the new Parliament, leading to heated exchanges between members from the ruling party and the opposition regarding the "Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam" or the Women's Reservation Bill, introduced in the Lok Sabha by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal.

The bill proposes to guarantee one-third (33%) of seats for women representatives in the lower House of Parliament and state assemblies, with the reservation to be in effect for 15 years, extendable by the Parliament. The implementation of the proposed reservations will occur after the delimitation process and the decennial census are completed, once the bill becomes an act.

Sonia Gandhi to lead the debate: Sonia Gandhi, the chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party, will lead her party's discussion on the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam or Women's Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

Key Provisions of the Constitution (128th Amendment) Bill, 2023: The bill introduces three new articles and one new clause. It outlines that one-third of seats reserved for scheduled castes (SC) will be reserved for women, and one-third of the total number of seats filled by direct elections will also be reserved for women. Similar provisions apply to the Delhi legislative assembly and state legislative assemblies.

Opposition-Centre Barbs: Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the importance of including more women in policymaking and hailed September 19 as a historic day due to the bill's introduction. However, the opposition, including the Congress, criticized the bill, calling it a political ploy by the BJP government and a significant betrayal of Indian women. In response, the BJP argued that the Congress had never been genuinely committed to providing women with reservations in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

Kharge's Controversial Remark: Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, triggered protests when he alleged that most political parties do not nominate women from marginalized sections. He also accused Prime Minister Modi of weakening the federal structure of the country. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman strongly rebuked Kharge's statement, asserting that the opposition should not insult individuals and emphasizing the demand for reservations for all women.

Also Read:  Congress Claims Ownership of Women’s Reservation Bill, Sonia Gandhi Asserts “It as Ours”

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