New Delhi, September 19″: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the Lok Sabha in the new building of Parliament on Tuesday, said tha the Narishakti Vandan Act will further strengthen our democracy.
Emphasising the need for collective dialogue and action for the common welfare, the Prime Minister stressed the unity of goals.
He said that we all should follow the Lakshman Rekha of parliamentary traditions.
Seeing the increasing contribution of women in every field, the Prime Minister stressed the need to involve more women in policy-making so that their contribution to the nation can further increase.
He urged the members to open doors of opportunity for women on this historic day.
He said that, taking forward the resolve of women-led development, our government is today introducing a major constitutional amendment bill. The objective of this bill is to expand the participation of women in the Lok Sabha and legislative assemblies. The Narishakti Vandan Act will further strengthen our democracy.
The Prime Minister assured all the women of the country that he was committed to making this bill a law. He requested that both houses pass the bill unanimously.
The Prime Minister said that today is the historic first session in the new Parliament House. He extended his best wishes on this occasion.
The Prime Minister said that this is the dawn of Amritkaal, as India is moving forward with determination for the future by moving towards the new Parliament House.
Highlighting recent achievements, the Prime Minister mentioned the successes of Chandrayaan-3 in the field of science and its impact on the G-20 organisation and at the global level.
He said that a unique opportunity has presented itself for India, and in this light, the country’s new Parliament building is becoming functional today.
Referring to the auspicious occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, the Prime Minister said that Lord Ganesha is the god of prosperity, auspiciousness, reason, and knowledge. The Prime Minister said that it is time to fulfil the resolutions and start a new journey with new enthusiasm and energy.
The Prime Minister said that today is also Samvatsari, the festival of forgiveness. This festival is about asking for forgiveness for any intentional or unintentional acts that may have hurt someone.
The Prime Minister also addressed everyone in the spirit of the festival and asked them to leave behind all the bitterness of the past and move forward.
The Prime Minister referred to the presence of the sacred Sengol as a link between the old and the new and a witness to the first light of independence. He said that this sacred Sengol was touched by the first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru.
Modi said that Sengol therefore connects us to a very important part of our past.
The Prime Minister said the grandeur of the new building consecrates the Amritakaal and remembers the hard work of the workers and engineers who continued to work on the building even during the pandemic.
The Prime Minister applauded these workers and engineers in the entire House.
He informed me that more than 30 thousand workers contributed to the construction and mentioned the presence of a digital book giving full details of the workers.
The Prime Minister said that Parliament is the highest post to serve the country.
He underlined that the House is not for the benefit of any political party but only for the development of the nation. As a member, the Prime Minister said that we must uphold the spirit of the Constitution through our words, thoughts, and actions.
Modi assured the Speaker that every member would live up to the expectations and aspirations of the House and work under his guidance.
The Prime Minister stressed that the behaviour of members in the House will be one of the factors that will determine whether they will be part of the ruling party or the opposition, as all proceedings are taking place in the public eye.
Underscoring the role of politics in the effective transformation of society, the Prime Minister focused on the contribution of Indian women in fields ranging from space to sports. He recalled how the world had adopted the concept of women-led development during the G-20.
He said that the government’s steps in this direction have been meaningful. Of the 50 crore beneficiaries of the Jan Dhan Yojana, most are women.
He also mentioned benefits for women in schemes like the Mudra Yojana and the PM Awas Yojana.
Noting that there comes a time in the development journey of any nation when history is being made, the Prime Minister said that today’s occasion is the moment in India’s development journey when history is being written.
Highlighting the discussions and deliberations in Parliament on women’s reservation, the Prime Minister said that the first bill on this issue was first introduced in 1996.
He said that during the tenure of Atal Ji, it was introduced in the House several times but could not garner the required number of votes to turn the dreams of women into reality. Modi said, “I believe that God has chosen me to complete this work.”
He said that the union Cabinet has decided to advance the Women’s Reservation Bill in Parliament. The Prime Minister underlined that this historic day, September 19, 2023, will remain immortal in the history of India.
