PM Modi Apologizes to Mothers and Sisters After Women's Reservation Bill Defeat

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday apologised to the mothers and sisters of the country after the Women’s Reservation Bill was defeated in the Lok Sabha, as the opposition voted against it and the government failed to secure the two-thirds majority required for the constitutional amendment to be passed. “I have come here today to speak to the mothers, sisters, and daughters of our nation,” the Prime Minister said, adding, “We were not successful in passing the Women’s Reservation Bill.” “I sincerely apologize to the mothers and sisters of our nation,” he said, expressing regret. Let us know! 👂 What type of content would you like to see from us this year? PM Modi then launched a scathing attack on the opposition for blocking the government's move to amend legislation on women's reservation and delimitation bills. He called the Opposition a group of opportunists who work only for themselves at the cost of the women of the country. “Due to the opposition parties’ narrow and self-serving politics, the mothers and sisters of our nation had to bear the consequences,” PM Modi added. Further slamming the opposition he said,“When the bill was defeated, these dynastic parties were clapping.” PM Modi also warned that women across India would remember those who blocked the bill. On the opposition's celebrations in the Lok Sabha after the bill was defeated, he said that when these leaders return to their constituencies, women would recall how they “rejoiced” after preventing women from getting their due place in Parliament. PM Modi's nation to the adress comes just a day after the bills were defeated. About The Bill The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill aimed to increase the number of seats in the Lok Sabha from the existing 543 to 816, to accommodate 33 per cent reservation for women. While 298 members voted in favour of the legislation, 230 MPs voted against it. The bill was defeated because, out of the 528 members who voted, it required 352 votes to secure a two-thirds majority. Two other bills, including one on delimitation and increasing the number of seats in the lower house, were not put to a vote after the first one failed, with the Centre stating that they were “intrinsically linked” to the women’s reservation legislation. Priyanka Gandhi demands to reintroduce 2023 Women’s Reservation Bill Earlier in the day, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra demanded that the Centre immediately reintroduce the 2023 Women’s Reservation Bill, calling the failure of the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, in the Lok Sabha a “black day” for the NDA government. Let us know! 👂 What type of content would you like to see from us this year? Addressing a press conference , Priyanka Gandhi urged the government to act without delay. "If you want to do something concrete, bring back the bill that was passed unanimously in 2023, supported by all parties. If you need to make a few small amendments to it so it can be implemented now, do it and implement it now. Give women their rights, right now," she said.