A much-debated topic in the new parliament building on the third day of the Parliament’s Special Session was the Women’s Reservation Bill (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam 2023). The women MPs in parliament, however, had varied opinions on it.

Sonia Gandhi (Congress): Was Rajiv Gandhi’s Dream

Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) chairperson Sonia Gandhi said the Women’s Reservation Bill was her husband and former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi’s dream, which could come true now, but it needed to be implemented soon with the inclusion of SC, ST and OBC communities.

She also said that the Congress demands that this Bill be enforced immediately, and along with that, arrangements be made for reservations to women from SC, ST and OBC communities by holding a caste census

Sonia Gandhi said, “On behalf of the Congress party, I stand in support of the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam 2023’ (Women’s Reservation Bill).”

“The figure of Indira Gandhi is the living example of women empowerment,” she said. “It is a very touching moment of my life. The first time, the Constitutional Amendment determining women’s participation in local bodies was brought by my life partner Rajiv Gandhi. However it was not passed in Rajya Sabha due to seven votes.”

“Later under the leadership of PV Narasimha Rao passed. This is the result of the fact that in the local bodies we have over 15 lakh women politicians. The dream of Rajiv Gandhi has been fulfilled only half and with the passage of this Bill his dream will come true,” she said.

She also said that Congress supports this Bill.

“We are happy with the passage of this Bill but at the same time, we are concerned too. I want to ask a question. Indian women have been waiting for their political responsibility for the past 13 years. And now they are being asked to wait for some more years. How many years? Two years, four years, six years or eight years? Is such kind of treatment with Indian women justified,” she asked.

On Sept 19, when enquired about the Bill, she had responded saying, “it is ours, apna hai”.

Smriti Irani (BJP) attacks Sonia Gandhi

Launching an attack on Sonia Gandhi, union minister Smriti Irani said in Lok Sabha that the Congress leader clarified in her speech earlier that the 73rd and 74th Amendment to the Constitution were not done by a specific (Gandhi) family but by the Narasimha Rao government.

The minister said that it is the same Narasimha Rao, whose dead body was not allowed inside his own party’s office.

Irani further said that the bill which was passed in Rajya Sabha during Manmohan Singh’s government, had a provision for reservation only for 10 years, whereas in this bill, the reservation will be for 15 years.

If we look from the perspective of the dignity of the Constitution, then (Goddess) Lakshmi has taken a Constitutional form through this bill, she said further.

Kanimozhi Karunanidhi (DMK): An opportunity for politicking

DMK MP K Kanimozhi slammed the government over the Women’s Reservation Bill saying that it was brought ‘shrouded in secrecy’ and alleged that unfortunately, the BJP has taken this also as an opportunity for politicking.

Kanimozhi said, “I am happy to be speaking about the Women’s Reservation Bill. We thought this bill will be passed with all of us supporting each other and standing together. But unfortunately, the BJP has taken this also as an opportunity for politicking. And it is very unfortunate.”

She also quoted the famous lines of former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet that “a better democracy is one where women do not only have the right to vote and to elect but to be elected.”

Slamming the BJP, she said, “The Bill is a poll promise of the BJP. Yet, many leaders had to urge them to bring this Bill and to pass it. Our leader Kalaignar (M Karunanidhi) has written to pass the bill in 2014.”

She said that even Sonia Gandhi wrote to the prime minister in 2017 requesting him to pass the Bill, Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin wrote to the prime minister to pass the bill in 2017.

“The bill, which was moved to empower women’s voice in the legislatures and in parliament of our great nation is struggling to succeed. This is really disheartening,” she said.

She further said that she herself has raised this issue of bringing the Reservation Bill many times in parliament.

“They said that they have to involve all stakeholders, political parties and then build a consensus before bringing the bill. I would like to know what consensus was built. What discussions were held? This bill was brought shrouded in secrecy,” she alleged.

“We did not know why this session was called for and in the all party leader meeting there was no mention of the bill. I don’t know if any of the leaders were called for discussion and deliberation.”

“Suddenly the bill popped up from the computer screen like a jack in the box. Is this going to be the way this government is going to function? Suddenly there are lotuses blooming from the uniform of the secretariat staff. Will everything be like this?” Kanomozhi asked.

Dimple Yadav (SP): Give reservation to women from SC, ST, OBC and minorities

Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav said that her party has always taken a stand that women belonging to minorities and backward classes should also get reservation under the provision of the women’s reservation bill.

Sangeeta Azad (BSP) supported the bill

Bahujan Samaj Party MP Sangeeta Azad expressed whole-hearted support for the bill. Azad added that though the BSP supports the bill, it has some demands.

She asked for 50% reservation for women in states and Centre. She also said that OBC reservations should be included along with reservations for women from SC/ST communities.

The BSP MP expressed hope that these reservations should be brought in the 2024 elections.

Sarmistha Sethi (BJD) highlights her party’s contribution

Biju Janata Dal MP Sarmistha Sethi said that the bill has been brought forward only due to the good work of Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik. Patnaik brought in 33% reservations in Odisha, she said.

Sethi highlighted that the BJD was the first party to field one-third women candidates in the 2019 parliamentary elections.

Mahua Moitra (TMC): Both an honour and shame to speak about the bill

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra called it both an honour and shame to speak about the bill, 75 years after Independence.

She highlighted that the number for male and female turnout were nearly the same in the last general elections, i.e. 66.7% and 66.8% respectively, but women’s candidature was at an abysmal 9%, up from 7% in 2004.

The government introduced the Bill as a groundbreaking move, but what does the Bill say, she wondered, highlighting that an article makes the reservations contingent on a delimitation exercise.

Moitra called the legislation a women’s reservation rescheduling bill, and said that it should be renamed as such, saying that “forget 2024, this bill will not come to light even by 2029”. She described the Bill as ‘a sham’.

“When this government wanted to protect cows, you didn’t wait to count the number of cows, you started building cow shelters. Are women any less?” she sought to know.

She said that it is a chance for the prime minister to prove that “Modi hai toh mumkin hain” asking it to send 33% women members to parliament.

(Source: IANS)

-Edited for style

For more such updates and news on the go, follow us on

Instagram | YouTube | Facebook