Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address the nation at 8.30 pm on April 18 and is likely to speak on the Women’s Reservation Bill. Earlier in the day, following the conclusion of the Parliament session, leaders from all parties held a formal meeting with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. PM Modi also spearheaded a key meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in New Delhi, focussing on safeguarding India’s security and economic interests amid the escalating conflict in West Asia.
The Cabinet meeting was held a day after the Constitution Amendment Bill, aimed at implementing reservation for women in legislatures from 2029 and increasing the strength of the Lok Sabha, was defeated in the Lower House. While 298 members voted in favour of the Bill, 230 voted against it. Out of the 528 members who participated in the voting, the Bill required 352 votes to secure passage.
According to the proposed legislation, the number of Lok Sabha seats was to be increased from the current 543 to a maximum of 850 in order to operationalise the women’s reservation law before the 2029 General Elections.
This expansion was to follow a delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census. Similarly, seats in state and Union Territory assemblies were also to be increased to accommodate a 33 per cent reservation for women. Following the Bill’s defeat in the Lok Sabha, the BJP termed the development a ‘black day’ and accused the Congress and other Opposition parties of betraying women. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said that the Congress and the Opposition would have to face the anger of women across the country, alleging that they had permanently damaged their credibility.
