India News

Use your majority to get Women’s Reservation Bill passed in LS: Sonia to Modi

Published

8 years ago

September 21, 2017

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Congress president writes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying her party will support the legislation in Parliament

Congress president Sonia Gandhi has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to use the BJP’s brute majority in the Lok Sabha to ensure passage of the long-pending Women’s Reservation Bill which envisages reservation of a third of seats in Parliament and state legislatures for women.

The Women’s Reservation Bill was cleared by the Rajya Sabha on March 9, 2010 when the UPA government was in power, Sonia reminded Modi, while adding that thereafter “it has languished in the Lok Sabha for one reason or another”.

The UPA government, which had managed to get the politically controversial legislation passed by the Parliament’s Upper House had failed to succeed in an en core in the Lok Sabha due to opposition from various political parties, including those like the JD (U), Samajwadi Party, RJD and others.

In her letter to Modi, dated September 20, Gandhi said: “I am writing to request you to take advantage of your majority in the Lok Sabha to now get the Women’s Reservation Bill passed.”

The Congress president, who had taken personal interest in ensuring that the legislation was passed by the Rajya Sabha and had individually met several women journalists on March 9, 2010 after it was approved by the Upper House to “congratulate” them, also told Modi that her party “has always and will continue to support this legislation which will be a significant step forward in the empowerment of women”.

In her letter, the Congress president recalled that it was her party under the leadership of her late husband and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi “who first mooted the provision for reservation for women in panchayats and nagarpalikas in the Constitution Amendment Bills which the Opposition parties thwarted in the Rajya Sabha in 1989 but later were passed by both Houses of Parliament in 1993 becoming the 73^rd and 74^th Amendments (sic)”.

On Thursday, the Congress fielded seven of its women faces – Sushmita Dev, Ranjeet Ranjan, Shobha Oza, Priyanka Chaturvedi, Khushboo Sunder, Sharmishtha Mukherjee and Vijaylaxmi Sadho – at the party’s media briefing to emphasise on the need to pass the Bill and that the party had always supported the cause of women empowerment through its legislative and political agenda.

It is pertinent to note that despite constituting nearly 50 per cent of the country’s electorate and often outnumbering the men in voter turnout, women representation in both Houses of the current Parliament is a paltry 10 per cent. According to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), that’s half the global average of 21.4 per cent.

The proposed Bill has the potential to become one of the most empowering laws for women in India’s political and social landscape, say votaries of the legislation. A stronger women’s voice at the top would have a trickle-down effect, leading to the development of policies and laws that would help women at the grassroots level fight abuse, discrimination and inequality, has been a common argument in support of the Bill.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Related Topics:Congress Narendra Modi Sonia Gandhi

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BJP seals Assam seat-sharing pact, Modi to hold 3 rallies in April

BJP has finalised its Assam seat-sharing plan with allies and is gearing up for an intense campaign led by PM Modi and Amit Shah.

Published

28 seconds ago

March 18, 2026

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The Bharatiya Janata Party has finalised its seat-sharing arrangement for the upcoming Assam Assembly elections, firming up its strategy alongside National Democratic Alliance partners as campaigning gathers pace in the state.

Under the agreement, the BJP will contest 89 seats, while its allies — Asom Gana Parishad and Bodoland People’s Front — will field candidates in 26 and 11 constituencies respectively. The distribution has been decided after internal deliberations, with the focus now shifting to candidate announcements and campaign execution.

Campaign push led by top leadership

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to address three rallies in Assam during the final leg of the campaign. Tentative dates for the rallies are April 1, April 3 and April 6, with events likely to be held in key constituencies.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is also set to spearhead an extensive campaign across the state through March, aiming to energise party workers and strengthen voter outreach.

Candidate selection underway

The party’s Central Election Committee is currently meeting to finalise candidates. Sources indicate that approvals for most constituencies are expected soon, and the BJP may release its complete list of candidates within the next two days.

Ticket distribution remains a crucial exercise, with internal discussions highlighting its potential impact on local political dynamics. Party leaders have also touched upon the proposed delimitation exercise scheduled for 2027, which is expected to have long-term implications for Assam’s electoral landscape.

Polling and counting dates

Voting for all 126 Assembly seats in Assam is scheduled for April 9, while the votes will be counted on May 4.

India News

Delhi Palam fire leaves 6 dead, massive rescue operation underway

Six people died after a fire broke out in a residential building in Delhi’s Palam. Firefighters continue rescue efforts with 30 tenders at the spot.

Published

7 hours ago

March 18, 2026

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A tragic fire incident in southwest Delhi’s Palam area on Wednesday morning claimed the lives of six people, triggering a large-scale emergency response.

According to officials, the blaze erupted in a residential building, prompting immediate action from fire and police authorities. Around 30 fire tenders were rushed to the spot to control the flames and carry out rescue operations.

Authorities said they received a distress call at approximately 7 am reporting the fire at a house within the building. Firefighters were deployed swiftly amid concerns that several residents could be trapped inside the structure.

A fire services official stated that initial information suggested people might still be inside, leading to an intensive search and rescue effort. Emergency teams, including police personnel, reached the congested locality to assist in evacuation and crowd management.

The firefighting operation was still ongoing at the time of reporting. The exact cause of the fire has not yet been determined, and further details are awaited as authorities continue their investigation.

India News

Centre mandates 60% free seat allocation on flights, caps selection fees

Airlines must now offer 60% seats without extra charges and ensure better seating arrangements for passengers under new government rules.

Published

8 hours ago

March 18, 2026

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In a significant move aimed at protecting air travellers, the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation has directed airlines to ensure that at least 60 per cent of seats on every flight are offered without any additional selection fee. The decision follows widespread complaints from passengers about hidden charges, particularly for seat selection.

The directive has been issued through the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, which has introduced a series of passenger-friendly norms to enhance transparency and improve the overall flying experience.

Under the new guidelines, airlines have also been instructed to seat passengers travelling on the same PNR together, preferably in adjacent seats. This is expected to address long-standing concerns among families and group travellers, who often face inconvenience due to scattered seating arrangements.

The regulator has further emphasised the need to safeguard passenger rights in situations such as flight delays, cancellations, and denied boarding. Airlines have been asked to prominently display these rights across their websites, mobile applications, booking platforms, and airport counters to ensure better awareness.

In addition, carriers must establish clear and transparent policies regarding the carriage of sports equipment, musical instruments, and pets. The move comes in response to frequent complaints over inconsistent rules and high charges. Airlines have been directed to align such policies with safety and operational standards while ensuring they are communicated in a simple and passenger-friendly manner.

To improve accessibility, the regulator has also asked airlines to share passenger rights information in regional languages.