In a historic move, Parliament clears Women's Reservation Bill

The Bill received unanimous support from all Rajya Sabha members. There were no abstentions and no opposition. The bill cleared the Lok Sabha on Wednesday with the support of 454 MPs while only two MPs voted against it.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, present in the Upper House for the voting and passing of the bill, said, "The debates were very successful. In the future as well, this debate will help us all. Thank everyone for their support to the bill. The spirit will give birth to new self-esteem among Indians."

In a tweet later he thanked all MPs of the Rajya Sabha who voted in favour of the Bill and called it a 'defining moment in India's journey'.

The day was marked by a big debate in Rajya Sabha too was over the timeline of implementation.

The implementation of the quota can take place only after a census and delimitation, which pushes the same by at least six years.

The INDIA bloc is in favour of immediate implementation instead of a several-year gap for the mandatory census and delimitation.

"Amendment of this bill is not difficult... you (the government) can do this now but have postponed it till 2031. What does this mean?" said Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge.

Trinamool Congress's Derek O'Brien alleged that the BJP is not serious about empowering women. "You could not find one woman in 16 NDA states for Chief Minister." He said at the Rajya Sabha debate.

Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in an intervention during the debate, said the Centre convened the special session to give a good start to the new parliament building through the historic bill.

The BJP does not play politics in matters related to women, she added.

Once implemented, the number of women members in the Lok Sabha will increase from the current 82 to 181. Besides, 33 percent of seats will be reserved for women in the state assemblies as well.