New Delhi;; Addressing concerns over representation, especially in southern and smaller states, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Thursday that no state will be discriminated against in the delimitation of constituencies linked to the reservation of seats for women in Lok Sabha and state Assemblies. He said “the proportion of seats (in Lok Sabha) will not change”.
He cautioned Opposition parties that women of the country would not forgive them if they were to stall implementation of the proposed law for “inclusion of 50% of the population in policy making” which was “the need of the hour” and could not be delayed any longer.
Participating in the Lok Sabha discussion on three Bills relating to reservation for women, delimitation and increase in the strength of Lok Sabha, Modi said, “Naari Shakti will be watching our decision (nirnay), and more than that, our intent (neeyat). They will never forgive any ill-intention on our part.”
Seeking to address concerns over the fallout of delimitation of constituencies, especially in Tamil Nadu where the ruling DMK under M K Stalin has been opposing delimitation, he said, “The proportion of seats will not change; the increase will be in the same proportion… If you want a guarantee or a promise, I will say so. If there is a good word in Tamil, I will use it. When the intention is good, we do not need to play with words.”
He said none who has taken oath on the Constitution should think of the country in parts, that it has to be seen as a nation. He said he was willing to offer a guarantee and a promise that the proportionate share of states in Lok Sabha would not change after its expansion, as sought by the Bills.
Underlining that everyone wanted early implementation of the quota for women in 2023, he said 2024 was too close to implement it. The need of the hour, he said, was not to delay it any longer.
“None has given us the right to sit here and think of the country in terms of parts. We have taken an oath and have to see ourselves as a nation… But in view of the frenzy being whipped up for votes, I say with responsibility that this decision will not discriminate against anyone or do injustice to anyone,” he said.
“We should not delude ourselves into thinking that we are giving something to Nari Shakti of the country. It is her right. We have denied it for decades and we should liberate ourselves from that,” he said.
“Today, we don’t have the courage to deny it openly, so technical points and excuses are being sought. But you can’t deceive women now. You have stalled it for three decades, but achieved nothing. So, pass it now,” he urged members.
“Some people here think that Modi’s political greed is behind this… If you oppose it, it is natural that I will gain politically. But if we all come together, none will benefit in particular. We don’t want credit. You pass it, and I will issue an advertisement using public money, publishing all your photos. I am offering you a blank cheque of credit,” he said.
“We should have implemented this 25-30 years ago and improved it as needed over time,” he said, adding, “It is our good fortune to give representation to half the population. It will add sensitivity to our governance.”
He linked the passage of the women’s quota Bill to the aspiration for a developed India. “Viksit Bharat does not mean just infrastructure and economic data, but also inclusion of 50% of the population in policy making,” he said.
No party said it disagrees with this move in principle, he said, adding that they are just taking a political direction. He said women never forgave those parties that opposed this move.
“This did not happen in 2023 because the Bill was passed unanimously. Everyone was together at that time. Even today, it will not help anyone in particular. Everyone will get credit, not just the treasury benches or Modi. Look at the election results over the last few decades. You can save yourselves from damage. Don’t give it political colour,” he said.
Modi said he comes from an extremely backward community, and thanked SP’s Dharmendra Yadav for pointing it out earlier in the day. He said his constitutional duty was to take all sections along. “It is because of the Constitution that the country gave a person from an
Praising the achievements of women, he said their inclusion would improve the capability of the country. He urged the Opposition not to view it from a political lens but as a matter of national interest.
He said that as a Chief Minister, he had seen women’s leadership at the grassroots, and their commitment accelerated progress. “A sensitivity will be infused here. Parliament will be enriched,” he said. “There is no dearth of experienced and capable women in the country.”
Modi asked members to pass the Bill unanimously, adding that half the population of the country had a right to be in Parliament. He said the strength of the House will be increased so that no one suffers a loss.
