'I am issuing a blank cheque': PM Modi makes BIG offer to opposition on Women's Reservation Bill

New Delhi: Appealing to all opposition parties to come together on the Women's Reservation Bill, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged them not to weigh this legislation on the scales of politics. He asserted that we must not hold back half of the population. He further stated that he does not wish to claim any political credit for this initiative.

What did PM Modi say on women's bill?

Therefore, he appealed to all parties to join hands and ensure the passage of this bill. The Prime Minister told the opposition parties, "If you wish, you may take the credit for it yourselves, but please ensure this bill is passed." A visibly transformed demeanor of the Prime Minister was witnessed in the House. Instead of launching his characteristic witty barbs at the opposition, the Prime Minister appeared to appeal to their conscience—highlighting the folly of failing to pass the Women's Reservation Bill in the past—and even went so far as to extend an offer.

What did PM Modi tell opposition parties?

Furthermore, making a humble request to the opposition parties, the Prime Minister declared, "I am handing you a blank check. If you desire to receive the credit for this, we are prepared to use government funds to publish photographs of all of you." The Prime Minister added, "Whosever's photographs you provide, we will have them printed at the government's expense; just allow this bill to be passed by the House."

What Guarantee Did PM Modi Give?

Additionally, the Prime Minister affirmed that no state would face any discrimination during the delimitation process. When a female Member of Parliament interjected to ask what guarantee existed to ensure this, the Prime Minister replied, "This is *my* guarantee. If you prefer to call it a promise, then this is *my* promise. If there is a specific word for 'promise' in Tamil, then it stands as that as well." The Prime Minister emphasized that this decision-making process would not discriminate against anyone, and the ratio of seats would remain unchanged, just as it has been in the past.

What Did PM Modi Say About 'Nari Shakti'?

The Prime Minister stated, “Let us not harbor any illusions; I am not engaging in a discourse of ‘I versus You.’ Nor should we harbor the misconception that we are merely ‘granting’ something to the nation’s women—our *Nari Shakti*. This is their rightful entitlement, an entitlement we have withheld for many decades. Today presents an opportunity to atone for that past and liberate ourselves from the guilt of that transgression. We are all well aware of the cunning and maneuvering employed in the past. We have always been in favor of this measure; yet, time and again, it was stalled by attaching some technical rider or another."

"However, you will no longer be able to hoodwink the women of this nation. The ‘numbers game’ within the House will play out in due course. You kept this legislation in limbo for three decades; you did whatever you intended to do. Now, simply let it pass—let it go! Some individuals here seem to suspect that, somewhere within this initiative, lies a hidden political agenda of mine. Let me state in unequivocal terms: I derive no personal political gain from this measure. However, if *you* choose to oppose it, then the political dividends will undoubtedly accrue to us,” he added.

PM Modi further added that when opposition to this measure arose 25–30 years ago, the backlash did not penetrate very deep into the public consciousness. Do not make that mistake again. Today, women have emerged as opinion leaders; they are vocal and articulate. They will observe these proceedings closely and express their views openly. Therefore, those who choose to oppose this bill should take heed. Women often remark, “You readily involve us in menial tasks—such as sweeping and waste management—but you fail to integrate us into the actual decision-making processes.”

He asserted that any political party aspiring to success must acknowledge the reality that, over the past 25–30 years, hundreds of thousands of women have risen to become leaders in their own right. These women—who are actively leading at the grassroots level—will not forgive those who stand in the way of this legislation. Those who oppose women's reservation will have to pay a heavy price for a very long time to come. Once women enter the legislative chambers in significant numbers, they will play a pivotal role in shaping a great many decisions.