Parliament Special Session: Rajya Sabha passes historic Women's Reservation Bill by 215-0 votes | HIGHLIGHTS

BJP women MPs met Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the Women's Reservation Bill got passed in the Rajya Sabha. They participated in a group photo shoot at the premises of Parliament.

Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die after giving nod for historic Women's Reservation Bill on Thursday night.

"There could not have been a better start for the new Parliament building! Today, as a nation, we have ushered ourselves into a new era of women empowerment. With the passage of 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam' by both houses of Parliament, we have moved towards providing a long-pending right to our women," said BJP chief JP Nadda.

"Where there is a will there is a way. A historic milestone was achieved today on the path of equitable governance as the Rajya Sabha has passed the women's reservation bill. By fulfilling a long-pending demand, PM @narendramodi Ji has sent a powerful message of gender equality and inclusive governance across the world. My heartfelt gratitude to Modi Ji and congratulations to every citizen," Home Minister Amit Shah posted on X.

"A defining moment in our nation's democratic journey! Congratulations to 140 crore Indians. I thank all the Rajya Sabha MPs who voted for the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. Such unanimous support is indeed gladdening," PM Modi on X.

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said it is an auspicious coincidence that today is also the birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi according to the Hindu calendar. Dhankar congratulated the PM on the passage of the historic bill.

Rajya Sabha passed the historic Women's Reservation Bill by 215-0 votes.

The historic Women's Reservation Bill was passed in Rajya Sabha.

The voting on the Women's Reservation Bill is underway in Rajya Sabha.

PM Modi appealed to MPs to vote in support of the Women's Reservation Bill in Rajya Sabha.

PM Modi began addressing the Rajya Sabha

"I stand in support of this Bill. My party and I.N.D.I.A parties wholeheartedly support this Bill..," said Rajya Sabha LoP Mallikarjun Kharge on Women's Reservation Bill.

"...In women-related matters...we do not play any politics. It is an article of faith for the Prime Minister and therefore we do everything that we have done whether it is Article 370, triple talaq, or now the Women's Reservation Bill," said Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Rajya Sabha.

"We brought the resolution to the final destination... Women's Reservation Bill will be passed in Rajya Sabha also, said Union Minister Smriti Irani.

"Whatever PM Modi has done, he has done it with a good motive. No other PM has done such things...It's their (Opposition's) job to do it (oppose the bill), we don't bother about it," said BJP MP Hema Malini on Women's Reservation Bill.

"...After the inauguration of the new Parliament building, we wanted to dedicate this building to women...This will be a historical building...To introduce this bill on Ganesh Chaturthi was the government's decision...This is not from the point of view of elections... This is for giving respect to women... What the Congress government was not able to do in 60 years is happening under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi... I would like to congratulate everyone on this," said Union Minister G.Kishan Reddy.

A delegation constituted of women BJP MPs led by Union Miniter Smriti Irani will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to thank him for the passage of the Women's Reservation Bill in both Houses of the parliament, said sources. They will have a group photo with the PM at his office in Parliament, they added.

Several Congress MPs have moved amendments for the immediate implementation of the Women's Reservation Bill. The MPs who have raised the amendments are:

• JB Mather
• Neeraj daangi
• Rajni Patil
• Ami yajnik
• Pholodevi netam
• Ranjita Ranjan

Also, some MPs have moved amendments demanding provision for OBC reservation in the Bill.

"Yesterday Sonia Gandhi said this was the dream of Rajiv Gandhi... We are happy that his dream is going to be accomplished now after the continuous effort of Sonia Gandhi for 22 years... If you give importance to the women in India, it's a revolutionary step," said Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot.

A historic task has been done. They (the opposition) regret that it wasn't done by them but PM Modi. The women of the country are happy, said Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.

On the Women's Reservation Bill, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju says, "No one should criticise the Women's Reservation Bill. Everyone must support it... If Congress can not bring the bill and if the BJP under the leadership of PM Modi has the courage to bring the bill, let's celebrate it."

On the Women's Reservation Bill, BJP Leader Khushbu Sundar says, "It's a proud moment and we have been fighting for this for the last 27 years and it got approved now...It's good that we got to witness it...The country is progressing and along with it women are making progress who will play an important role in policy and decision-making".

"This is for the empowerment of women and it should be seen as a good step... this shows the intentions of PM Modi and his thoughts towards women empowerment. We all must thank PM Modi...," said BJP MP Ajay Mishra Teni.

On the Women's Reservation Bill, BJP MP and West Bengal BJP President Dr Sukanta Majumdar says, "...This time period will be known for its historic works... Women will get rights, and their participation will increase in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha..."

On the Women's Reservation Bill, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Deepender Singh Hooda says, "...I am moving an amendment today. If it gets implemented, there will be a draw on 545 seats, and reservation can be implemented in 2024. We will appeal to the government to agree to this amendment."

On the Women's Reservation Bill, TMC MP Dola Sen says, "You must have seen how the decision on NPR, NRC, and CAA happened. How the decision on the farmers' bill happened you had seen...For the first time in the history of the Parliament...I was suspended... We will welcome it if they implement it (Women's Reservation Bill)..."

On Women's Reservation Bill, actor Hrishitaa Bhatt says, "This (Women's Reservation Bill) is a big initiative. It feels really good..."

On a statement by Congress MP KC Venugopal that "it is an insult that the President and Vice President were not present at the inauguration of the New Parliament", Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said, "We cannot trade on deficiencies. We can't trade ignorance of others. Let me make it very clear, Vice President and President have been accorded the highest respect in the country. There has been no constitutional transgression. The position of the President and the Vice President or the chairman has to be kept at their level as expected and that was done. And that is what you have seen in last three days also. I would appeal to you as a member of the leading opposition party, you must do your homework. Find out. It does not send a good message when you bring in the President also. Read the constitution and you will find the role has been defined categorically... The President will address every session of Parliament, that was the original prescription in the Constitution. And the (first) amendment was, once a year. President has to act in accord with the Constitution..."

On the Women's Reservation Bill, Tripura CM Manik Saha says, "...Who has implemented it? The credit only goes to PM Modi. The bill was passed yesterday. I would like to thank him on behalf of the people, especially the women of Tripura...The bill has become a milestone".

Speaking on the Women's Reservation Bill, actor Tamannaah Bhatia said that this bill will inspire common people to join politics.

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, RJD MP Manoj Jha called for sending the Women's Reservation Bill to the Select Committee. "There is still a chance to send it (Women's Reservation Bill) to the Select Committee and incorporate SCs, STs and OBCs," he added. 

Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda is speaking on the Women's Reservation Bill in Rajya Sabha.

Noting that Indian women are playing a leading role in fields such as science, education and economy, BJP president JP Nadda said on Thursday that the Modi government has taken several steps for the empowerment of women in the last nine years. Participating in the debate on the Women’s Reservation Bill in Rajya Sabha, the BJP chief said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given a decisive turn to the long-pending issue of women’s reservation with the government bringing a new bill to give them reservation in Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, AAP MP Sandeep Pathak said that there are three components to the Women's Reservation Bill. "This Bill has three components - first talks about giving 33 per cent reservation, second, which is crucial, is commencement - when will it be implemented. On this, it has been stated (by the government) that first there will be Census and then delimitation, and after that, it might be enforced. JP Nadda himself said that it is not possible before 2029," he added. 

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said, "On August 23, we scripted history as our unmanned Moon mission's lander module made a flawless soft landing making us only the fourth country to achieve this feat and first to reach the uncharted South pole of Earth's only natural satellite, the Moon. Let me take you back to when our nation's scientists, led by Dr Vikram Sarabhai, began to develop the contours of India's national space programme in the early 1960."

In a historic move, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar constituted an all-women panel of Vice-Chairpersons in Rajya Sabha. As many as 13 women members were nominated to the panel as the Upper House discusses the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam 2023'. 

(Report: Piyush Mishra) 

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Nadda stressed that the BJP does not want to take political advantage of the Women's Reservation Bill. "I want to make it clear that the Bharatiya Janata Party does not want to take a political advantage, but aims at empowering women," he added. "Women always had an important role in the Indian culture. We have always seen her as 'Shakti', 'Devi' and someone who guides the society," he added. 

BJP president JPM Nadda spoke on the Women's Reservation Bill in the Rajya Sabha, "...We all know that the proceedings in this new Parliament began from Ganesh Utsav and yesterday in Lok Sabha, the Women's Reservation Bill - Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam - was passed without any obstacles. I am confident that it will be passed here unanimously without any obstacles."

Women's Reservation Bill | In Rajya Sabha, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal says, "This reservation is vertical as well as horizontal. SC-ST women will also have reservations under this. So, Census and Delimitation are important...As soon as the bill is passed, there will be Census and Delimitation. It is a Constitutional process. Which seat will go to women, this will be decided by the Delimitation Commission..."

On the Women's Reservation Bill, Member of Rajya Sabha PT Usha says, "It's a real 'Amrit Kaal' for women, and we are honoured.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hailed the success of  Chandrayaan-3. "The success of Chandrayaan-3 is a big achievement for us, because several other developed countries still continue to make efforts towards reaching the Moon, while we have become the first country to reach the southern pole of the Moon," he added. 

Speaking on the Women's Reservation Bill in the Rajya Sabha, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal says, "Through the Constitutional Amendment Bill that I have brought today, a section will be inserted in Article 330, Article 332 and Article 334. Through these, 1/3rd of the seats will be reserved in Lok Sabha and all State Assemblies of the country. This is a major step."

Speaking on the Women's Reservation Bill, RJD MP Manoj Jha raised questions on the intention of the government. "The government doesn't have a clear intention on this bill...There's no road map and this bill is being passed. You have rejected and excluded a big population. PM Modi and his team need to understand that the discussion is not happening on the passing of the bill, but on OBC, why are they not included?... You should revise your position once again or else people have other options to change your position and your bill," he added.

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal tabled the Women's Reservation Bill in Rajya Sabha. "This is a Bill towards women empowerment," he said. The bill was unanimously passed in Lok Sabha yesterday (September 20). 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked all MPs for passing the Women's Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha. 

Union Law Minister Arjun Meghwal is set to move the Advocate Amendment Bill in Lok Sabha today

The Central government is all set to move the Repealing and Amending Bill, 2023 in the Rajya Sabha today to repeal certain enactments and to amend a minor drafting error in the Factoring Regulation Act, 2011. 

The Rajya Sabha unanimously adopted the resolution congratulating the scientists on the success of Chandrayaan-3. It was adopted at the conclusion of the discussion on 'India's Glorious Space Journey marked by the successful soft landing of Chandrayaan -3.

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BJP president JP Ndda and Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will speak on the Women's Reservation Bill in the Rajya Sabha. Meanwhile, Congress leaders Ranjeet Ranjan and Ranjani Pati will also present their view points on the bill.