‘Nari Shakti true strength of new India’

Amid political sparring, PM reiterates the Government’s will to implement the quota, seeks public backing

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday made a scathing attack on the Opposition, especially the Congress, the Samajwadi Party, the Trinamool Congress and the DMK for obstructing the passage of the women’s reservation bill. Addressing thousands of women at Nari Vandana Sammelan in Banaras Locomotive Works grounds, he said, “These parivar-vadi parties for their appeasement policies right from the beginning are opposing the women’s 33 per cent reservation in seats in the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabhas because they don’t want to give a strong voice to half population of the country.”

PM Modi affirmed, “Nari Shakti (women’s power) is the true strength of new India; when women advance, the entire society moves forward.” Taking aim at the Opposition, PM Modi remarked that for a long period, women in the country remained neglected. He noted that, often, women were not even consulted; instead, decisions were simply imposed upon them.

“The Opposition fears that if women enter politics in large numbers, their traditional brand of politics will come to an end”, the PM claimed, asserting that the philosophy of the BJP and the NDA is rooted in the principles of ‘respect for Nari Shakti’ and the spirit of ‘Nagarik Devo Bhava’ (the Citizen is God).

The PM called upon women to participate enthusiastically in this campaign to transform the nation into a developed country. Emphasising the point specifically, he affirmed that he would spare no effort in implementing women’s quota. He said that he had come to seek the blessings of all the women present for the commencement of this endeavour. Paying homage to the women of Kashi, the Prime Minister declared that today’s occasion is a celebration of the reverence and development of ‘Nari Shakti’. He noted that during this event, various projects worth thousands of crores of rupees have been inaugurated or had their foundation stones laid, initiatives that will lend fresh momentum to the region’s development.

While in Varanasi, the PM inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for 163 development projects worth Rs 6,322 crore. This included the dedication of 50 projects worth Rs 1,054.69 crore and the laying of the foundation stones for 113 projects worth Rs 5,277.39 crore. PM Modi also transferred a bonus of Rs 105 crore to lakhs of milk-producing farmers across the State associated with Banas (Amul).

The PM also flagged off two new Amrit Bharat Express trains virtually: Banaras-Pune (Hadapsar) and Ayodhya-Mumbai (Lokmanya Tilak Terminus).

He said that the recently launched Amrit Bharat Express trains, connecting Kashi to Pune and Ayodhya to Mumbai, will bring immense benefits to the general public. “This will provide the people of Maharashtra with a modern and convenient option to visit the Kashi Vishwanath Dham and Ayodhya”, he added.

At the conference, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath welcomed the PM; while outlining the roadmap for development, he also detailed the government’s ongoing efforts to safeguard the interests of women. Welcoming the PM, he hailed him as the ‘Architect of New India’, stating that it is a direct result of the PM’s vision and leadership that the nation is today advancing toward a new era, and we are all witnessing the tangible realisation of this ‘New India’.

Speaking at the conference, BJP National President and Rajya Sabha MP Nitin Nabin remarked that Narendra Modi has accorded the country’s female population a level of respect that previous governments failed to provide. He noted that the government has taken several historic steps with women’s empowerment at their very core.

The conference was also attended by Governor Anandiben Patel, Union Minister of State for Finance and state BJP chief Pankaj Chaudhary, and Zila Panchayat Chairperson Poonam Maurya, along with over 40 corporators and women representatives.