Thursday, 21st September will be remembered as a momentous day in the history of the Indian parliament, as on this day the upper house of the parliament gave a clear nod to the 128th amendment of the Indian constitution. The historical Women’s Reservation Bill has been passed unanimously in Rajya Sabha and it had already got a clear passage from Lok Sabha by a two-third majority on Wednesday.  The bill is also known as the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’ which calls for the reservation of one-third or 33% of seats in Lok Sabha and the state legislative assemblies. 

The bill will be remembered as the first bill to pass in the new building in both houses. It Secured 214 votes in its favour, with no one opposing the bill in Rajya Sabha. Only two members of the AIMIM opposed the bill in the Lok Sabha. The Nari Shakti Vandana Adhiniyam will be implemented after the census and the delimitation process. 

Prime Minister Modi was also present in the upper house at the time of voting, which was underway at night. The PM thanked all the members of the house for their support of the bill, later on, he posed for a group photograph with the female members of the house. PM in his speech said “A decisive moment in our nation’s democratic journey! Congratulations to 140 million Indians. I thank all the Rajya Sabha MPs who voted for Nari Shakti Vanda Adhiniyam. Such unanimous support pleases.” 

“With the passage of this bill in Parliament, we are ushering in an era of stronger representation and empowerment of women in India. It is not just a piece of legislation; it is a tribute to the countless women who have made our nation. India is enriched by their resilience and contribution. As we celebrate today, we are reminded of the strength, courage and indomitable spirit of all women in our nation. This historic step is a commitment to ensure that their voices are heard more effectively,” added PM Modi.  

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar congratulated the members and said “It is a historic achievement. This is the first bill approved in the new Parliament. After the Upper House passed the bill. Congratulations everyone. It also happens to be the day of Prime Minister Modi’s birthday according to Hindu calendar.” Dhankhar said after the bill was passed.

Several other BJP leaders also shared greetings messages to congratulate the citizens on social media. Opposition female leaders like Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Chaturvedi, and Mahua Moitra raised questions on the government that why this bill will not be implemented with immediate effect.