Parliament Special Session Highlights: Union Law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Tuesday tabled the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023, on the first day of proceedings in the new Parliament House, amid ruckus in the Lok Sabha. The constitutional amendment pertains to the women’s reservation bill, named the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, and provides for 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies.
Speaking on the first day of the session in the new building today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi informed Parliament that the Union Cabinet cleared the Bill at a meeting held Monday evening. The Lok Sabha was adjourned following the tabling of the Bill to reconvene at 11 AM tomorrow.
In a strong pitch for women’s reservation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke of women-led development in the country, highlighting the various contributions made by women in different sectors and fields.The announcement on the women’s reservation Bill came a day after Parliament bid goodbye to the old building, and the MPs moved into the new building for the remaining days of the special session.
Parliament Special Session Day 2 Highlights: House proceedings to move to new Parliament today; Union Cabinet clears Women’s Reservation Bill. Follow this space for all the latest updates.
New building of Parliament to be hereon designated as the Parliament House of India, Gazette notification issued. pic.twitter.com/AmV5InWCdG
— ANI (@ANI) September 19, 2023
#WATCH | Special Session of Parliament | Members of Parliament gather for a joint photo session.
— ANI (@ANI) September 19, 2023
The proceeding of the House will take place in the New Parliament Building from today. pic.twitter.com/7NZ58OmInm
Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday said 'apna hai..', upon being asked about the Women's Reservation Bill which was reportedly passed during the key Cabinet meeting on Monday.
#WATCH | On the Women's Reservation Bill, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi says "It is ours, Apna Hai" pic.twitter.com/PLrkKs0wQo
— ANI (@ANI) September 19, 2023
On the second day of the Parliament's special session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will lead a ceremony in the Central Hall of Parliament.
Prior to the Central Hall function, three separate group photographs will be taken within the inner courtyard of the old Parliament building. First, of Members of Parliament from both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, second, of Rajya Sabha members, and third, of Lok Sabha members.
The Lok Sabha proceedings are scheduled to commence at 1.15 pm, while the Rajya Sabha will convene at 2.15 pm in the new building. The event will be initiated and concluded with the national anthem.
Several veteran parliamentarians are slated to address Parliament, including former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Lok Sabha MP Maneka Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Upper House Mallikarjun Kharge, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha Piyush Goyal, and Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.
The Women’s Reservation Bill, stuck in limbo for 27 years, is said to have been cleared by the Narendra Modi Government in a Cabinet meeting on Monday, reserving 33 per cent seats for women in Parliament and legislative Assemblies.
According to sources, the legislation is unlikely to be implemented in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. It will be rolled out only after the delimitation process is over, most probably in 2029, they added, Indian Express reported.
This special session of Parliament will continue till Friday. During the session, a total of up to eight bills are scheduled for deliberation and approval.