'You Who Illuminate The World...': PM Modi's Hymn To Women Ahead Of Parliament Debate - WATCH

Ahead

of the discussion on the Nari Shakti Vandan Bill in Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the country is set to take a "historic step" towards women's empowerment in the ongoing special session. Posting a tweet on X, PM Modi said "The respect for our mothers and sisters is the respect for the nation, and with this very spirit, we are moving forward resolutely in this direction."

The Prime Minister also invoked a Sanskrit verse, highlighting the cultural and civilisational reverence for women. "You, who illuminate the world with your radiant rays, shining brilliantly. With hymns, the Kanvas have celebrated you, O bountiful one, the nourisher of all," he wrote.The Nari Shakti Vandan Bill, which seeks to enhance women's representation in legislatures, is scheduled to be taken up for discussion in Parliament today, with the government projecting it as a landmark reform aimed at deepening gender equality in political participation.The Centre is pushing the bill as part of a legislative package anchored by the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, which proposes delimitation based on the 2011 Census, instead of the 1971 Census that has guided seat allocation for decades.The Delimitation Bill, 2026, aims to redraw parliamentary and assembly constituencies, expand Lok Sabha strength from 543 to around 850 seats, and enable the rollout of women's reservation. The broader goal is to operationalise the Women's Reservation Act (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam), passed in 2023 but yet to be implemented because it is tied to delimitation.By advancing this exercise, the government hopes to implement the quota before the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged parties to support the move, stressing the need to implement the law in its "true spirit".