coming in from the Raj Saba as the proceedings of the house continue now it is the clause by clause voting although the women's reservation bill has been passed and congratulatory messages have started pouring in, with the prime minister saying that he thanks all the Raji Saba MPs and how this is a historic momentous occasion. Home Minister Ahmed Shah thanking the prime minister. He has also put out a detailed tweet in which he has spoken about how, when there is a will, there is a way. He goes on to say that how this is a historic milestone which has been achieved today on the path of equitable government. As the Raja Saba has passed the women's reservation bill, Then Mr Shah goes on to say that how it's a fulfilling of a long pending demand and Prime Minister Modi has sent a powerful message of gender equality and inclusive governance across the world. Several you know, party ministers, MPs across party lines have all started sharing their thoughts on what a day it is. We are witnessing history, ladies and gentlemen unfold. This is the new parliament of India, the new parliament where the parliamentarians entered just three days ago and now they have decided as their first business of the house. It will be about the historic legislation which grants 33% reservation for women in the Lux Saba and the state assemblies. Yes, the women will have to wait a little longer, in fact, quite quite, you know, several years down the line when it will be implemented. But overall, the first step has been taken. The bill has been passed by the Luba yesterday by the Raja Saba today, and certainly it's a different mining moment for India. The world's largest democracy has taken this decisive step in what will be seen as an effort towards gender equality and doing away with the gender injustice. It is progressive and it will certainly will be seen as a new seed in the chapter of Women Empire Woman, which has just been planted. Basu continues to be with us. We have with a here in the studio as well. When we look at these visuals and all those MPs who are present, they are witnessing history. They have been the makers of this history and nobody wants to be on the wrong side of this history with an and that is the reason why both the Luba and the Raja Saba voting it with full unanimity. And as you said, the first legislative business that was taken up in the new parliament in the new seat of the world's largest democracy was in the women's reservation bill. So the messaging is really being on point. And we all remember the prime minister's speech as well. How there was an emotional pitch, how he said, that he has been chosen for the women's reservation bill and for this absolutely historic bill to be passed in Parliament. There was an emotional pitch by the prime minister there, and it's been emphasised time and again by the prime minister and the Modi government that women led development is what is at the centre of their agenda, something that was highlighted in India's G 20 presidency as well as concerns were many about the falling numbers as far as women, participation in the labour force is concerned. But of course a strong message there by the Modi government that they championed the women's reservation bill. They cleared it in the cabinet and it was passed in both houses and, you know, very significantly the Raj with zero abstentions and zero noes. So extremely historic there. And just as we're discussing the women's reservation, Bill has gone through a whole journey in itself. And it was introduced first by the DEA government back in 96 and again reintroduced by the government in 2008. Uh, but before we come back to that, let's listen to what's happening in Parliament as we speak, a honourable members Clause five is adopted by a majority of the total membership of the House and by a majority of not less than two thirds of the members of the House president Voting existence, part of the bill. There are three amendments 00 10 and 11 by Kumar 45. Are you moving, sir? Both of you. Excellent. I made Ma's mood. I shall first put the amendments moved by citizens and those who are to vote those in favour. Please say I those against say no, I think the nose of it, the nose of the nose of it. The amendments are negative. I shall not put the amendment moved by wisdom to vote those in favour. Please say I those against say no, I think the nose of it, The nose of the nose of it. The amendment is negative. I shall not put closest to vote. Those in favour will appreciate those against say no. I think the eyes of it Division lobbies are already cleared. Secretary General, Honourable members. I am starting the voting process. The voting time starts now. Thank you, Friends. Family, We will No, we will. We will discuss changes after this tomorrow day after we'll discuss Yeah, thank God. That's what Wow! Those proceedings are underway there in Raj Saba. The clause by clause amendment being taken up there in Raj Saba Grand celebrations, of course, have been planned by the government by the party as well. The Prime Minister will be meeting all women MPs and of course, grand celebrations at the main gate of the Parliament as well. A historic moment indeed that after 13 years of being pending in Parliament, the Women's reservation bill has been passed with complete unanimity, complete consensus in both the houses. That's most critical in Raj, of course, with zero nos and zero abstentions. The fact that the Modi government could get together all the parties across ideological lines across the spectrum to agree on the women's reservation bill and come together and get it passed. Was the home minister tweeting that where there is a will, there is a way, the prime minister saying We are ushering in a new era of women, led development and increased women participation in policy. You know, of course, as we were discussing, you know, you've been covering this for years now, and this is something that's been a long standing demand of women across party lines. And many have said that you know, there was no political will to actually get this legislation passed because for many, it would be like signing off the death warrant because they would have to give up their seats. But it has been quite a journey. Yes, absolutely. But let me bring in Sunil Pra, who has tracked this legislation for years in parliament. Sunil your thoughts. On this day, it's historic, and you have seen history unfold. Absolutely. It's a great day. It's a great moment for women's movements for women leaders, for various people who have been talking about political representation. I think this is a great day for India. And why is it so great? Because I was there in Parliament in 1996 and I remember the late Gita Mukherjee, who was really struggled to get, you know, bipartisan support at that time. And it looked like, virtually done when of course, Mr Sharaf, the other and the other leaders at that time decided to not support it. And that's the reason for why it's been a struggle. It's been a struggle because India had coalition politics and even when in 2010 it was passed into the Raja Saba. It was the determination of the then Congress president Soria Grandhi, to get it through, even though Congress Group members weren't completely unanimously in favour of that decision. And you know, many of us really talk about man Banerji. But she was also upset with the manner and approach of how that bill was passed in the Raja Saba in 2010. So it is definitely a huge historic moment for women's leaders for women movements to see bipartisan support. Ultimately, all parties from across the political spectrum have contributed, and I think the prime minister set the tone this morning in the Luk Saba as well as in the Raja Saba. But just before it was taken up for passage that this is clearly an opportune moment. Of course, as we speak clause by clause. You know, voting is taking place for that entire bill to be accepted protocols that are required for a constitutional amendment. But definitely a huge day for women. And I really feel that you know a lot if it passes over time. Time is a healer today to get unanimous support without, you know, marshals being brought in and being able to pass this bill is definitely a huge occasion. Yes, And Sunil, you made an interesting point there that marshals were not asked to come in and the way members conducted themselves and the nature of discussion overall in both the houses of Parliament. How do you look at the debates in general? Who do you think made the most emphatic point? Well, I think if you honestly ask me, I think the Lok Saba yesterday was had did have a much better debate and discussion, and I think that, you know, was really set rolling by no less than the Congress President herself making that demand. And you know, making that very, very important shift in terms of, you know, now endorsing OBC politics. And I think that's a huge significant that has been done. What is the consensus today if you see across party lines, everybody demanding a con census? I remember when I was covering Dr Manon Singh's Cabinet and the census was to be taken. At that time in 2011, there was a huge demand for a cast census, and there was a big debate in the Cabinet on this. It took nearly four hours, and finally there was not known unanimity on that entire issue. Ultimately, they had to do a socioeconomic census in the Ministry of Rural Development and what they now say must be published and go ahead. So a lot has transgressed. And of course, I think yesterday's discussion about O BC about the fact that why can't we implement it immediately and the both the home minister as well as the law minister, saying that we don't want to fall prey to PIS and we want to be serious about implementation. And that's the reason why things have gone forward the way it has. Absolutely, and as you were mentioning you were there in Parliament back in 1996 you know, when it was first introduced by the David Gorda government. And it has come a long way and a historic moment, indeed, the women's reservation bill being passed in both the houses and, of course, in Raja Sabah, with zero nos and zero abstentions. We are witnessing history unfolding not just, you know, as far as the politics is concerned, but for Indian policy at large because, as the prime minister put it, we are ushering in a new era of women led development. We'll take a short break now, and there's more on the other side. This is our special broadcast, where we are continuing to track the entire procedure, the proceedings that are continuing in the House of Elders, the upper house of parliament that is the Raj Saba, where the Women's reservation bill has been passed. But it is the clause by Clause amendment, which is being put to vote. Sunil Pra continues to be with us Sunil from 1996 to 2010, and from 2010 to today, a long, long journey, and at every point we did see one political party or the other opposing it. Although, you know, the regional parties and the Congress did talk about OBC reservation within the women's reservation, but nobody really opposed it in terms of being counted to be opposed. So, you know, there there are no parties opposing it on the floor of the house. None of them oppose him because all of them have actually supported the blanket 33%. As I said, there's been a rethink from 2010 to 2023 where they're now demanding OBC reservation for women and ensuring that a cast census. So if there is a particular theme that you can draw from this, which is going to be a next big political demand after Women's Reservation, which took 30 years, is the question of cast census, which is now a big political demand by the opposition, something the government is still considering and hasn't taken a call yet. And because the present census the 2021 has been delayed and there was no provision for having, you know, enumerating casts, and that's something that is a big political divide. So if you see both the Lu Saba and the Raja Saba cutting across party lines in a subtle way. Everybody talking about cast census. But today, of course, is a historic day. It's a historic day for women. It's a historic day for women's movements, for women leaders, for all people who have been aspiring for political representation. And I think, as the prime minister himself says, it's a defining moment. It's definitely not only a defining, but a historic moment that we are definitely at the last legs of a long Told that Arjun is currently speaking in parliament, let's listen motion mode that the bill be passed. The question is that the bill be passed, Those in favour, please say those against you. Please say no. I think the eyes of it division division lobbies are already cleared. Secretary general, honourable members. I am starting the voting process. The voting time starts now. All right, so those proceedings still under way. But as we are discussing Mara a historic moment as far as India's history is concerned, and the prime minister also saying that we are ushering in the era of women led development, we are ushering in an era of stronger representation for women. SAB Rabo is with us on the broadcast and, you know, talk to us a bit about the political timing of it as well. That's true, because of course we have crucial elections just months away and in the run up to 2024. And experts have pointed out time and again that you know the return of Prime Minister Modi in 2024 and the you know the further strategy of the India bloc also hinges on women voters. So of course, you know, in the larger political context, the timing is something that cannot be ignored as well, absolutely cannot be ignored. And just to let our viewers know that the final voting is underway, which is now just a technicality, we will definitely see the bill passed, so it will be passed by two third majority. Now, of course, it goes from the Raj Secretariat and the Raja chairperson to the president of India for her final signature, which is expected tomorrow. And once that's done, it will become an act. But the timing and I must, you know, let our viewers know this was a top secret decision, a top secret decision that even nobody knew within the cabinet. It was a table item that the women's reservation bill was being brought. The fact that the prime minister kept us close to his chest, the people who were involved and it was only on a need to know basis, who came to know about the fact that they were bringing this legislation. A lot of thought process was done. A lot of thinking was done by key Cabinet ministers who were in charge of this entire process along with the prime minister and his officers. And then, of course, the final touches given and they worked the midnight oil after the Cabinet gave that clearance for its final approval. So it's been a top secret decision. The timing couldn't have been perfect. The new parliament to usher in a new era to make it show that what has basically got a broad consensus that every political party will agree and there was no mere unity in terms of the Women's Reservation bill which we saw both in the Lok Saba as well as in the Raja Saba when it has been passed. So it's definitely a huge historic moment, a great day for India, for a great day, for women in particular. For many people who have been working tirelessly for this political representation for many years, many have died. Many have survived it. But for them it's a day to rejoice. It's a day to celebrate. It's a day for women to finally be able, even though it might be, as the opposition says, it's a post dated check. Nevertheless, the fact is, it's now a constitutional amendment. It's enshrined in our constitution, and that's a big step forward and what a day it is. Sunil rightly said that we have witnessed history that Raja Saba has passed this crucial legislation. It will become a law now, after the approval of the president, it's only a matter of procedure. But yes, it's a defining moment in the world's largest democracy, where you know the women of this country will get their due. Of course, they will have to wait a little longer. We will have to wait a little longer for proportional representation, but yes, it's a step in the right direction and near unanimity with which it has been passed. Sunil, in both the houses of parliament, is a message that India of 2023 is best placed for giving the women their rightful place in history. Let's listen to what the Vice President is saying. The result of the division subject to correction. I is 214. It's something all around. Yeah, No zero honourable members. The motion is adopted by a majority of the total membership of the house and by a majority of not less than two thirds of the members of the house present and voting. The bill is passed by the constitutionally required majority. Let the lobbies be opened. Let the lobbies be opened. Honourable members kindly stand for national song. The house is 10 adjourned So Raja Saba has been adjourned. Signed eye. It's the closure of the special session of Parliament. You can see Party President, Mr JP Nadar, Go to the Prime Minister and all the leaders. Party ministers, Home Minister Ah Med Shaf, Finance Minister Nirmala Raman All of them going and congratulating Prime Minister in particular. We can see those women MPs are present and congratulating the prime Minister for what has been his effort. He has been leading this entire charge in ensuring that this is a moment for rejoicing for the women of India. That is the moment Those are the visuals coming in from the Raja Sabha, all women in of the BJP going to the Prime Minister to congratulate him. And as as sloganeering begins inside the house, several MPs from various political parties can be seen as well. Perhaps now the prime minister will start walking outside and there is a celebration which has been planned. Women MPs of the BJP will be congratulating the prime Minister and there will be a celebration also at the BJP headquarters tomorrow You can see the Prime Minister exiting the Raja Saha now amidst sloganeering of and congratulatory messages coming in from from his party men and women. There is the Prime Minister accompanied by the Parliamentary Affairs Minister now leaving the Raja Sabha. We will be seeing him now exit the Parliament house. This is the new parliament which has scripted history. The first business of the House has been of immense success. First business of the House has been about this legislation which grants which grants 33% reservation for women
