STATE TIMES NEWS
NEW DELHI: The Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha will meet again on Tuesday afternoon in the new Parliament building, with Speaker of the Lower House Om Birla urging the members to abstain from “organised disruptions” and “carrying placards” in the new chamber.
‘Women’s reservation bill approved by Cabinet’
New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Monday approved the women’s reservation bill, Minister of State Prahlad Singh Patel said.
“Only the Modi government had the moral courage to fulfil the demand for women’s reservation which was proved by the approval of the cabinet. Congratulations Narendra Modi ji and congratulations to the Modi government,” the minister said on X.
Patel is the Minister of State for Food Processing Industries and Jal Shakti. The Union Cabinet met this evening after the first sitting of the five-day special session of Parliament. The Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi went on for over 90 minutes. Cutting across political lines, leaders have demanded the introduction of the women’s reservation bill, which guarantees a 33 per cent quota in Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
The Women’s Reservation Bill passed by the Rajya Sabha in 2010 had provision for 33 per cent reservation for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
Earlier addressing the media, the Prime Minister said that “historic decisions” will be taken this Parliament session which may be of short duration but is big on occasion. The cabinet meeting was attended by Union ministers including Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Piyush Goyal, Pralhad Joshi, S Jaishankar, Nirmala Sitharaman, Dharmendra Pradhan, Nitin Gadkari and Arjun Ram Meghwal.
Ever since it was announced that the Parliament session would be held from September 18-22, there has been speculation on various bills, including the women’s reservation bill.
In his remarks in Lok Sabha on the discussion on 75 years of Parliament, he asserted that the contribution of women parliamentarians has been on the rise over the years.
Congress spokesman Jairam Ramesh welcomed the “reported decision” of the Union Cabinet.
“It’s been a long-standing demand of the Congress party to implement women’s reservation.
“We welcome the reported decision of the Union Cabinet and await the details of the Bill. This could have very well been discussed in the all-party meeting before the Special Session, and consensus could have been built instead of operating under a veil of secrecy,” Ramesh said on X.
While the Rajya Sabha will meet at 2:15 pm in the Upper House chamber of the new Parliament building on Tuesday, the Lok Sabha will meet at 1:15 pm in the Lower House chamber of the newly-constructed complex.
On Monday, the members of both Houses held a discussion on “Parliamentary Journey of 75 years starting from Samvidhan Sabha — Achievements, Experiences, Memories and Learnings”.
Speaking before adjourning the day’s proceedings in the Lok Sabha, Birla said a “constructive discussion” took place on the last day of the proceedings in this historic and prestigious chamber.
“The prime minister and leaders of all parties shared their views and experiences on the democratic journey of the country and on historic decisions and incidents. The time has come that the proceedings of the Lok Sabha are conducted in the new Parliament building,” the speaker said.
“This is a historic and unforgettable moment for all of us. We are going to enter the new complex and the memories of this building will always stay with us,” he added.
Birla reminded the members about the manner in which the prestige and decorum of the House was established.
Contribution of women in Parliament increasing: Modi
NEW DELHI: Amid a demand for the Women’s Reservation Bill, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the contribution of women parliamentarians has been on the rise over the years.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Modi highlighted the changing composition of the House over the years, saying it had become more inclusive with all sections of society finding representation.
“Inclusive atmosphere has kept manifesting the aspirations of the people with full power,” he said.
The Prime Minister noted the contributions of women parliamentarians that have helped burnish the dignity of the House. “Be it Dalits, oppressed, adivasis, backwards or women, every section’s contribution has increased gradually,” Modi said.
The Prime Minister said more than 7,500 public representatives have served in both Houses whereas the number of women representatives has been approximately 600.
Cutting across political lines, leaders have demanded the introduction of the Women’s Reservation Bill, which guarantees 33 per cent quota in Parliament and state legislatures.
“Now, we will begin the journey of our parliamentary democracy in the new building. I hope we will establish new milestones in the new Parliament building. I also expect that the members will abstain from certain past incidents, especially carrying placards and causing organised disruptions, and establish highest democratic traditions,” he said.
“I also expect that in the new complex, with new energy and resolve, we will hold debates of high quality, surpassing those that have been held in the old building,” the speaker said.
Birla said he had an attachment with the old building, having spent four years and a half there as the speaker.
“I have experienced how, on many serious issues, the entire Parliament has taken decisions in one voice in the interest of the country and I hope that in the new building too, the members will take even better decisions in the interest of the country, so that the prestige of India’s democracy rises further in the world,” he said.
The Indian democracy plays the role of the guiding light for the world, he added.
In the Rajya Sabha, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said, “The House stands adjourned to meet at 2:15 pm on Tuesday, September 19, in the Rajya Sabha chamber of the new building of Parliament.”
Initiating the discussion in the Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the vision of Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of independent India, and subsequent leaders, including Lal Bahadur Shastri, P V Narasimha Rao and Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Earlier in the day, Birla said the old Parliament building has made an “unparalleled” contribution to India’s democratic journey as collective decisions were taken there for the country’s welfare.
