The Congress party extended a warm welcome to the Union Cabinet’s reported decision to give the green light to the women’s reservation bill during a pivotal meeting presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In a crucial development, the Union Cabinet, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cleared the women’s reservation bill. Union Minister Prahlad Patel made the announcement, and notably, the customary post-Cabinet meeting press briefing was skipped by the government.
Union Minister Prahlad Patel expressed his admiration for the Modi government’s determination to fulfill the demand for women’s reservation. He hailed this approval as a testament to the government’s moral courage and stated, “Congratulations Narendra Modi ji and congratulations to the Modi government.” Patel, who serves as the Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, underscored the significance of women’s empowerment.
Reacting to this noteworthy development, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh shared his thoughts on the matter. He acknowledged the Congress party’s longstanding call for the implementation of women’s reservation and expressed their welcome for the reported Union Cabinet decision. Ramesh also emphasized the importance of transparency and consensus-building, suggesting that the issue could have been discussed during the all-party meeting before the Special Session of Parliament.
Jairam Ramesh also referenced a detailed post he shared on Sunday, highlighting the Congress’s consistent support for the women’s reservation initiative. He cited a Congress Working Committee (CWC) resolution passed during their recent meeting in Hyderabad, which called for the passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill during the Special Session of Parliament.
Ramesh recounted the historical journey of women’s reservation legislation in India, dating back to Rajiv Gandhi’s efforts in 1989 and P V Narasimha Rao’s reintroduction of the bills in 1993. He also noted Dr. Manmohan Singh’s efforts as Prime Minister to pass the Constitution Amendment Bill for one-third reservation for women in Parliament and state legislatures.
Ramesh clarified that bills introduced and passed in the Rajya Sabha do not expire, indicating that the Women’s Reservation Bill remains active. He stressed that the Congress party has consistently called for the passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha over the past nine years.
The Union Cabinet convened following the inaugural session of the five-day special Parliament session and deliberated for more than 100 minutes. Leaders from various political backgrounds have united in their demand for the introduction of the women’s reservation bill, which guarantees a 33 percent quota for women in both the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
