New Delhi, April 17: The 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill, introduced by the government in the Lok Sabha on Friday, failed to pass due to a lack of the required two-thirds majority. Through this bill, the government sought to increase Lok Sabha seats and provide 33 percent reservation for women.
The opposition argued that the government was seeking to further its political interests by introducing delimitation legislation under the guise of women’s reservation.
For two days, the Lok Sabha simultaneously discussed the Constitutional Amendment and two other bills, the Delimitation and Union Territory Amendment Bills. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also appealed to the opposition on the social media site “X.”
The Home Minister even assured that if the opposition supported the bill, the government was ready to immediately amend the bill to guarantee a 50 percent increase in seats for the states.
After a late evening discussion in the Lok Sabha, the necessary division of votes was achieved due to the constitutional amendment. The bill received 298 votes in favor and 230 against. To pass the bill, the government needed the support of two-thirds of the members present in the House.
Due to the failure to pass the Constitution Amendment Bill, the government withdrew two related bills. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju stated that the opposition did not support the government on this historic occasion. The government has only missed an opportunity and its campaign to empower women will continue.
Following this, the Lok Sabha was adjourned until 11 a.m. Saturday
Responding to the discussion in the Lok Sabha, the Union Home Minister said that the Prime Minister had appealed to vote according to conscience. It seems the opposition lacks conscience and is engaging in ruthless politics. They are opposing women’s reservation only to avoid credit for it to the ruling party. The opposition will have to face the anger of women.
Shah said, “The country still worships the squirrel that contributed to the Ram Setu. And the country also remembers Tadka, who offered her bones in the havan. The women of the country will never forgive Congress and Rahul Gandhi for offering the bone of opposition to the yagya of women’s reservation.”
In his speech, Shah said that no matter how much opposition we face to empower women and give them a share in legislative bodies, we will fight, and we will ensure they receive reservation.
Amit Shah said that Congress has opposed every major decision of the government. It has opposed decisions like Article 370, Ram Mandir, Triple Talaq, and Operation Sindoor. This will be the fifth time that a bill related to women’s rights is being prevented from being implemented.
Shah, on the one hand, expressed opposition to Muslim reservations and, on the other, accused the Congress party of injustice to the Other Backward Classes.
He said that 27 ministers in our government come from the Other Backward Classes, representing 40 percent of the Council of Ministers. During our governments, women became chief ministers for the first time in many states.