Parliament Special Session Highlights: NDA announces nationwide protests after women's bill fails Lok Sabha test

"We have been telling the government not to rush into bringing the bill. This bill was never for women's reservations," said Arvind Sawant, Sena (UBT) MP from South Mumbai. 

(Video: ANI)

"They chose politics over progress. Their resistance to the Nari Shakti Vandan Bill has exposed exactly whose interests they truly serve," posted Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis after the women's reservation bill failed to pass in the Lok Sabha. 

"What objection do they (Congress) have to increasing the seats for our mothers and sisters?" asks Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu. 

(Video: ANI)

After the NDA's meeting, now top BJP leaders are meeting Home Minister Amit Shah inside the Parliament. Union Ministers JP Nadda, Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Ashwini Vaishnav and Kiren Rijiju along with BJP president Nitin Nabin are present at the ongoing meeting. 

(Inputs from Piyush Mishra)

A strong show of opposition unity after the government's women's reservation bill was defeated in the Lok Sabha. As per sources, Rahul Gandhi reached out to the TMC and spoke with Abhishek Banerjee. Akhilesh Yadav thanked Mamata Banerjee, while Mallikarjun Kharge called Derek O’Brien to appreciate his floor coordination.

(Inputs from Mausami Singh)

The NDA is all set to hold nationwide protests after the women's reservation bill failed to pass in the Lok Sabha. Sources tell India Today that multiple protests will be held across the country in which NDA allies will also participate. 

(Inputs from Piyush Mishra)

BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj on Friday launched a sharp attack on Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi following the failure to pass the Constitution Amendment Bill linked to women’s reservation. Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Swaraj said merely carrying a copy of the Constitution was not enough and urged Gandhi to read it, claiming it would bring him "better sense".

BJP MP Tejasvi Surya on Friday termed the failure to pass the Constitution Amendment Bill linked to the women's reservation law a "sad day for democracy", accusing the Congress of derailing a historic opportunity.

"This is a very sad day for the democracy of the country. We had the opportunity to create history by giving women their rights in policy making, but the Congress party has once again betrayed the women of the country," he said. 

BJP MP Poonamben Maadam on Friday accused the Opposition of blocking the implementation of the women's reservation law, alleging that the move amounted to a 'betrayal' of women across the country.

"It had been decided in 2023, that till the 2029 General Elections, the women's reservation Bill will be implemented across the nation. When the government came with this Bill, INDI alliance, under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, completely opposed this and stopped the Bill from passing. The nation's women will not forgive Rahul Gandhi and INDI alliance... They did a huge injustice and betrayed the women of the nation," she said while speaking to news agency ANI.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday sharply criticised the Opposition after the Constitution Amendment Bill linked to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam failed to pass in the Lok Sabha. Calling the developments in the House “strange”, Shah accused parties including the Congress, Trinamool Congress, DMK and Samajwadi Party of preventing the passage of what he described as an essential bill to implement 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal said the failure of the Delimitation Bill showed that the 'arrogance' of Prime Minister Narendra Modi had backfired.

Taking to 'X', Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin hailed the defeat of the women's reservation bill in the Lok Sabha. "Tamil Nadu Defeats Delhi! On April 23, we will defeat Delhi's arrogance—and the slaves who support that arrogance—together!," he posted on X. 

Following the defeat of the women quota bill in the Lok Sabha, LoP Rahul Gandhi posted on 'X'. 

After the Opposition defeated the Women's reservation bill in the Lok Sabha, Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav said, "We are not against women's reservations. It was good to know that people from the Opposition did not cross vote."

BJP women MPs raise slogans against the Congress and the Opposition after the women's reservation bill was defeated in the Lok Sabha.

"The bill failed as the Opposition did not support such a historic bill," says Kiren Rijiju in Lok Sabha. 

Lok Sabha to meet again tomorrow at 11 am. 

Paper votes still being counted

Aye - 298 
No - 230

Speaker now announcing bill defeated

The Constitution (131st Amendment) Amendment Bill gets 278 ayes and 211 noes; 489 voted in the Lok Sabha.