PM Modi Writes to Floor Leaders, Pushes for Implementation of Women’s Reservation Act

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reached out to the floor leaders of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha ahead of the special sitting of Parliament, seeking support for the Women's Reservation Act. "The time has come to implement the Women's Reservation Act in true spirit," PM Modi said in his letter. During the three-day sitting of Parliament, 16th to 18th April, the government is set to bring bills to implement the Women's Reservation Act before the 2029 parliamentary polls and increase the number of Lok Sabha seats to 816, with 273 reserved for women."From April 16, a historic discussion related to the Women's Reservation Act is set to take place in Parliament... It is imperative that 2029 Lok Sabha, Assembly elections are conducted with women's

reservation in place," PM Modi said in his letter. "I am writing this letter so that we may all come together in one voice to pass amendment to Women's Reservation Act, " the prime minister said. "Any society progresses only when women have the opportunity to progress, make decisions and more importantly, to lead. For India to realise its vision of becoming a developed nation, it is essential women play a greater, active role in this journey," he said. Responding to the letter on Sunday, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that calling Parliament's special sitting amid state polls reinforces the belief that the government is hurrying the implementation of women's reservation law for "political mileage".In a letter to PM Modi, Kharge reiterated the demand that an all-party meeting be called to discuss the delimitation issue, which is being linked to the amendments to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023, after April 29. The Congress last week had accused the Narendra Modi government of playing politics in the name of women's reservation law and asserted that the proposed delimitation exercise linked to it was "not constitutional" and could have "grave consequences" that warrant thorough deliberation after the ongoing assembly polls.Meanwhile, the BJP has issued a three-line whip to all its members in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha from Thursday to Saturday, 16th to 18th April 2026. "All Hon’ble Union Ministers and Members are requested to remain present in the House throughout all the three above mentioned dates. Presence in the House is mandatory. No leave will be granted. Members are requested to strictly comply with the Whip and ensure their uninterrupted attendance in the House," the notification read.