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

Published

9 years ago

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Sonia Modi

[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 73rd and 74th 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]

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PM Modi marks Operation Sindoor anniversary, calls it India’s firm stand against terrorism

PM Modi said Operation Sindoor showcased India’s firm response against terrorism while paying tribute to the armed forces on the operation’s first anniversary.

Published

5 hours ago

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May 7, 2026

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PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said Operation Sindoor demonstrated India’s firm response against terrorism and highlighted the country’s commitment to national security.

Marking one year of the operation, the Prime Minister praised the courage, precision and professionalism of the Indian armed forces. He said the military action was carried out in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that had claimed the lives of 26 civilians in 2025.

Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7, 2025, as a calibrated tri-services operation targeting terror infrastructure linked to cross-border terrorism. Reports said the operation showcased coordinated action by the armed forces and was seen as a major counter-terror response by India.

On the anniversary of the operation, PM Modi also changed the display pictures across his social media platforms, including X, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. The image carried the text “Operation Sindoor” along with the Indian tricolour design.

The Indian Air Force also shared visuals and messages recalling the operation and highlighting India’s military response. A video released by the force described the operation as a strong message against terrorism and referred to the precision strikes carried out during the mission.

Operation Sindoor was launched following the Pahalgam terror attack, after which India carried out strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, according to official statements and reports published at the time.

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Vijay meets Tamil Nadu Governor again as TVK pushes to prove majority

TVK chief Vijay held another meeting with Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar as the party intensified efforts to secure majority support after emerging as the single-largest party in the Assembly elections.

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5 hours ago

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May 7, 2026

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Actor vijay

Actor-turned-politician Vijay met Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar again on Thursday as his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), continued efforts to prove it has enough support to form the next government in the state.

TVK emerged as the single-largest party in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly after winning 108 seats, but it remains short of the majority mark of 118.

The Congress has extended support to TVK, adding five MLAs to Vijay’s side. However, the alliance still needs additional backing from other parties or independents to comfortably cross the halfway mark.

According to reports, the Governor has not yet been fully convinced that TVK currently has the required numbers to form a stable government. This has delayed clarity over the swearing-in ceremony and the formal invitation to form the government.

Political activity intensified after reports emerged that some AIADMK legislators were moved to a resort in Puducherry amid speculation over possible support to TVK. AIADMK leaders, however, publicly denied any internal crisis.

TVK sources have expressed confidence that the party will be able to demonstrate majority support during discussions with the Governor.

The Tamil Nadu election results marked a major political shift in the state, with TVK breaking the long-standing dominance of the DMK and AIADMK in its first Assembly election contest.

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India News

PM Modi changes social media profile pictures to mark Operation Sindoor anniversary

PM Modi changed his social media profile pictures to commemorate one year of Operation Sindoor, with several NDA leaders following the move.

Published

6 hours ago

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May 7, 2026

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PM Modi speech

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday updated the display pictures of his social media accounts to mark the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor. The new image was seen across his profiles on X, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp channels.

The updated profile picture carries the text “Operation Sindoor” on a black background along with elements of the Indian tricolour. One of the letters in the word “Sindoor” has been stylised using vermilion, commonly associated with married Hindu women.

Operation Sindoor was launched a year ago by Indian defence forces and the Border Security Force along the western border. The anniversary was also marked by several Union ministers and NDA leaders, who changed their social media profile pictures in a similar manner.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and other senior leaders were among those who adopted the commemorative display image on social media platforms, according to reports.

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