LS PASSES HISTORIC WOMEN'S RESERVATION BILL BY 454/2 VOTES

Bill to now move to Rajya Sabha; Opposition leaders say implementation of the proposed law can take many years, flag lack of reservation for OBCs, Muslims.

- RAJAT RAKESH TANDON

In a historic development, the Women's Reservation Bill, Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, was passed on Wednesday in the Lok Sabha by 454 votes in favour and two against it. As it was a constitutional amendment, the division of votes was done manually by signing colour chits.

The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam will grant 33% seats to women in the Lower House of Parliament as well as state legislative assemblies. Implementation of the proposed law can, however, take several more years-a fact that was vehemently underscored by Opposition leaders.

"The proposal has been passed with more than a two-thirds majority of the members present in the house," Speaker Om Birla announced after the voting. 454 MPs voted in favour of the bill, while two MPs voted against it. The bill will now have to be approved by the Parliament's upper house and at least half of India's state assemblies before being promulgated into a law.

Six attempts to pass the bill have been thwarted since it was first introduced in 1996, at times with vehement resistance from lawmakers. Currently, India has a mere 104 women MPS (out of nearly 800) as per official figures.

The quota will only take effect once India conducts the 2021 census-postponed indefinitely amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Irate Opposition leaders have suggested that the Bill is an election "jumla" intended to "gets the headlines today". Lawmakers have also flagged the lack of reservation for OBCs or the Muslim community.

"Some people on social media are saying that this bill should not be supported as there is no reservation of OBC, Muslims. If you don't support this bill, will reservation happen sooner? If you support this bill, then will at least be guarantee..." Home Minister Amit Shah told the Lok Sabha.