No society can develop unless it gives women the opportunity to lead.

As the government attempts to build consensus with an upset opposition over the timing of the Women's Reservation Bill, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written to leaders of all political parties in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, appealing for the bill to be passed unanimously.

In a letter written on Saturday, ahead of the resumption of the Parliament session on Thursday, Mr. Modi described the impending discussion on the bill as historic and an opportunity to further strengthen democracy. He said he was writing the letter in the spirit of collective resolve on the matter. He stated, "From April 16, a historic discussion is going to take place in Parliament on 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam'. This special session is an opportunity to further strengthen our democracy. It is also a moment when we can reaffirm our collective resolve to move forward together and take everyone along. I am writing to you with this spirit and purpose."

The Prime Minister appealed to the members of Parliament to rise above party politics and demonstrate unity to pass the bill unanimously. He said, "I am writing this letter so that we can all unite to pass this amendment with one voice. It would be good if the maximum number of members of Parliament express their views on this subject in Parliament. This moment is above any one party or individual. It is time to show responsibility towards women and our future generations. Since all political parties have been expressing their desire to increase women's participation in politics for a long time, now is the right time to turn this desire into reality. It will be a great achievement for the country's 'Nari Shakti' and 1.4 billion Indians. I am confident that we will all come together to complete this historic task in Parliament."

Emphasizing the importance of women's development and their participation in decision-making for societal progress, he said, "Any society progresses only when women get the opportunity to develop, make decisions, and most importantly, lead. It is essential for India to become a developed nation that women play a more active role in this journey. Today, we are seeing increasing participation of women in various fields of public life. From space to sports, from the armed forces to start-ups, India's daughters are making their mark in every field. With their hard work and determination, they are proving their capabilities."

He said the issue of women's reservation has been debated for decades and now is the time to fulfill it. He stated, "The issue of women's reservation in Parliament and state assemblies has been a subject of discussion for decades. In 2023, members of Parliament from various parties united in Parliament in support of Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. It was a memorable moment that showcased our unity. The whole world saw how a collective and important decision was made to fulfill a promise to the country's women. Women are almost half of our population, and this was a solid step towards increasing their participation in the political arena. I consider that day a significant and impactful milestone in India's parliamentary journey."

Mr. Modi said many members of Parliament participated in the discussion on Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, and the timing of its implementation was also discussed during these consultations. There was a broad consensus that the commitments of this historic law should be implemented as soon as possible. Many party leaders also shared this view. Recently, we have consulted with experts on this subject. We have taken suggestions and guidance from constitutional experts. We have also held discussions with political parties.

After detailed deliberation, we have come to the conclusion that the time has come to implement Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam across the country in its true spirit. It is essential that the 2029 Lok Sabha elections and assembly elections be held with women's reservation. This will bring new energy to India's democratic institutions and strengthen public trust. It will also ensure more participation and representation in governance.

The opposition has alleged that the government did not take it into confidence on the matter of the bill and did not even wait for the assembly elections in five states to conclude. The opposition says the government should have called a meeting after the assembly elections to build consensus first.

The government, deviating from tradition, did not adjourn the Parliament proceedings for an indefinite period after the second phase of the budget session concluded on April 2. The government has said that the Women's Reservation Bill will be amended after discussions during the special meetings on April 16, 17, and 18, to provide 33% reservation to women in the Lok Sabha and assemblies.