PM Modi invites Ambedkar to campaign for women quota

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said on the occasion of BR Ambedkar’s birth anniversary that the proposed constitutional amendments related to the Women’s Reservation Act are guided by the spirit of “equality and inclusion” emphasized in the constitution he drafted. “Our democracy will become stronger and more vibrant if the 2029 Lok Sabha elections and various parliamentary elections that year are held with adequate reservation for women,” the Prime Minister said in a letter to women across the country ahead of the three-day special session of Parliament starting on Thursday. “For this purpose, the legislation coming up in Parliament should be passed. Any further delay will be unfortunate and a grave injustice to Indian women,” Modi said. The journey towards ‘Viksit Bharat’ will be strengthened when women become active participants in policies and decision-making. Adding more dynamism to India’s development trajectory makes women’s participation non-negotiable, he stressed. The Prime Minister said this principle led to the passage of the law in 2023 and made the amendments a priority. He said that with women excelling in various fields, there is broad consensus to increase their role in the legislative body. He cited Sardar Patel’s efforts to reserve seats for women in the city of Ahmedabad and noted that India had given equal voting rights at independence. Decades of efforts have been unsuccessful. He urged women to write to MPs in support of the amendment ahead of the “historic” meeting as India strives to achieve a “Viksit Bharat” by 2047.