Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday made a last-minute appeal to opposition parties to support the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, as Parliament prepares to vote on the landmark women’s reservation legislation.
The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, which aims to enable women’s reservation and facilitate delimitation, was cleared for introduction in the Lok Sabha on Thursday after a division of votes. The development follows an extended debate in the House that continued late into the night.
In a post on X, the Prime Minister noted that discussions on the amendment were ongoing and emphasised that the government had addressed concerns raised during the debate. He stated that misconceptions had been clarified, missing information provided, and apprehensions resolved.
Parliament is discussing a historic legislation that paves the way for women’s reservation in legislative bodies. The discussions, which began yesterday, lasted till around 1 AM and have continued since the House proceedings began this morning.
The Government has addressed all…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 17, 2026
Push for Women’s Representation
Highlighting the long-pending nature of the issue, PM Modi remarked that women’s reservation has been subject to political debate for decades and stressed that the time had come to ensure rightful representation for half of the country’s population.
The Prime Minister pointed out that women continue to have limited participation in decision-making despite decades of independence.
With voting scheduled for 4 PM, the Prime Minister urged all political parties to carefully consider the matter and support the Bill unanimously. He called on Members of Parliament to act with sensitivity and keep in mind the sentiments of women across the country.
Prime Minister Modi also invoked a personal appeal, asking MPs to reflect on the women in their own families while making their decision. He described the moment as an opportunity to empower women and strengthen democracy, adding that the eyes of millions of women were on Parliament.
Expressing confidence in consensus, the Prime Minister said the amendment would further empower women and deepen democratic values, urging lawmakers to come together to create history.
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