'Don't measure bill with political scale, some afraid of losing elections'; PM Modi at Parliament

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is now speaking in the debate on the Women's Reservation Amendment Bill. The Prime Minister described the bill in the Lok Sabha as a historic moment. PM Modi called the bill an opportunity to make women a part of governance and not something to be wasted.

PM MODI:

"This bill will change the course of politics in India. The bill is the need of the hour. The country will not forgive those who oppose it. Don't see politics in the bill. Those who allowed reservation in the panchayat are opposing reservation in the Lok Sabha. Some are afraid of losing their own seats. Those who oppose the bill will have to pay a price. Don't measure the bill with a political scale. The women of the country are watching the sincerity of the Lok Sabha members. Those people with secessionist ideology are spreading fake propaganda on the bill. Everyone will be given equal importance,” said PM Modi amid strong opposition protests.

The bill seeks to increase the number of Lok Sabha seats to 850 to implement 33 per cent women's reservation in the 2029 elections. The opposition had decided to oppose this unanimously in a meeting held the previous day. The move is to rearrange the number of Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies based on the 2011 census. The central government decided to move forward, ignoring the opposition's objections. It was earlier indicated that the number of Lok Sabha and Assembly seats in all states would be increased by 50 per cent for women's reservation.