Centre, Opposition come together to pass Women's Reservation Bill in Lok Sabha

New Delhi: After hours of fierce debate, the Lok Sabha passed the Women's Reservation Bill with 454 votes which provides 33 per cent reservation for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023, was passed after a reply by Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal.

The Bill was passed by a majority of the total membership of the House and by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members of the House “present and voting”.

The Bill was passed following division with 454 members voting in favour of the legislation and two against it on the motion for the passage moved by Meghwal.

The amendments moved by opposition members were negatived and there was also voting on clauses of the bill. Speaker Om Birla announced that the Bill had been passed. The 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam' is the first bill passed by Lok Sabha during the special session after it shifted to the new Parliament building on Tuesday.

Prime Minister expressed thanks to MP across party lines for voting in favour of the Women’s Reservation Bill. Amid the debate in the Lok Sabha over the Women’s Reservation Bill, the Opposition parties stuck to their demand of a quota within a quota.

The 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam' is a "historic legislation" that will further boost women's empowerment and will enable "greater participation of women in our political process," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday after the passage of the bill in Lok Sabha. "

Delighted at the passage of The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023 in the Lok Sabha with such phenomenal support. I thank MPs across Party lines who voted in support of this Bill," PM Modi said on 'X'. 

National Conference Chief Farooq Abdullah said that the Bill is passed and it is a historic day.  "The Bill is passed...This is a very historic day... Women will come to Parliament and strengthen the country," Farooq Abdullah said.

(ANI)