PM Modi dares opposition on women's quota: Kill the bill at your own peril

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the astute politician that he is, turned the debate on the Women's Reservation Act in Parliament into a challenge for the opposition on Thursday. It was a direct dare from PM Modi - oppose the legislation at your peril, as the country's "nari shakti" was watching closely, and history has not been kind to those who "opposed women's rights".

Speaking in Parliament after the Centre tabled three bills that would pave the way for the early implementation of 33% women's reservation, PM Modi mixed conviction with provocation. At the outset, the Prime Minister made it clear that women were watching all MPs and they would not forget "ill intentions" aimed at stalling the legislation, which was passed by Parliament in 2023.

'NARI SHAKTI WATCHING CLOSELY'

"Hamari neeyat ki khot, desh ki naari shakti kabhi maaf nahi karegi (The women of the nation will never forgive any dishonesty in our intentions). Today, the entire country, especially the women's power, will definitely look at our decisions, but more than the decisions, they will look at our intentions," PM Modi said.

In the past decade, parliamentary, as well as state elections, have shown how women voters hold the key in shaping electoral outcomes. It has resulted in parties bending over backwards in wooing them and rolling out women-centric schemes. PM Modi is well aware of this. He had this in mind when he dared the opposition to block the passage of the legislation.

He further underlined that the MPs should not be under the "illusion" or "pride" that "we are giving anything to the women of this country". In the same breath, he reinforced it, "Not at all, this is their right."

The Prime Minister stressed that the legislation was already 30 years too late. It followed a stark reminder to the opposition, who have objected to linking the bill to the delimitation exercise.

"Those who opposed giving this right to women have not been forgiven by the women of this country. They have faced the consequences," the Prime Minister said.

PM MODI INVOKES HISTORY

History shows that PM Modi has not been completely off the mark. Previously, there were four attempts to give 33% reservation to women in Parliament.

Such a bill was first introduced by the HD Deve Gowda government in 1996. The bill was referred to a committee, but it lapsed after the Gowda government lost a majority as Congress withdrew support. It was revived by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led BJP government in 1998 and 1999. On both occasions, the bill failed to proceed. Vajpayee lost the 2004 polls.

The Manmohan Singh government managed to pass the bill in the Rajya Sabha, but could not bring it to the Lok Sabha. The bill lapsed again in 2014 after the UPA made way for the BJP.

'GIVE YOU A BLANK CHEQUE'

Perhaps the most dramatic moment came when PM Modi, softening his tone, offered to cede credit for the legislation entirely. It was a political gamble. But Modi has taken many such gambles in his political career.

"I give you a blank cheque... I don't want the credit," he said, and even offered to put everyone's photo on hoardings after the passage of the legislation.

However, beneath the Prime Minister's conciliatory tone lay a clear dare as he went about outlining the political pitfalls.

"It is very obvious that if you oppose this bill, then I will get political benefits from it. However, if we walk together, nobody will benefit from it," PM Modi emphasised.

In his 40-minute speech, PM Modi blended appeal with accusation, charging the opposition with employing "technical bahanebaazi" to stall women's reservation.

"Today, we don't have the courage to deny it openly, so technical excuses are being sought out. But you can't deceive women now," he said.

PM CALLS OUT 'TECHNICAL BAHANEBAAZI'

The first "technical excuse" mentioned by PM Modi involved the opposition's bid to link the delimitation to a fresh Census. The opposition has sought that the delimitation exercise be carried out using the 2021 Census data. However, PM Modi argued that using the 2011 Census as a baseline was a mathematical necessity to implement it before 2029.

The second "technical excuse" identified by PM Modi was the debate around the North-South divide over delimitation. The southern states have raised the concern that the redrawing of constituencies would cost them seats and thereby their voice in Parliament.

However, PM Modi assured that the increase in parliamentary constituencies would be uniform across all states and as per existing proportions. He also asserted that he was willing to offer a "guarantee" that the proportionate share of states would not change.

The strategy adopted by the Prime Minister was a classic move to corner the opposition while, at the same time, inviting cooperation.

By framing the issue of women's quota as both a moral obligation and a political acid test, PM Modi raised the stakes for the opposition. The writing for the opposition is on the wall - support the legislation or oppose it and risk facing the ire of women voters.

- Ends

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