Day after quota Bill setback, PM Modi targets Opposition over ‘selfish politics’

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

New Delhi, April 18 (IANS) A day after the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill on women’s reservation did not pass in the Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday addressed the nation, criticising Congress, DMK, Trinamool Congress, and the Samajwadi Party over what he termed “selfish politics”.

Expressing regret over the outcome, the Prime Minister said it pained him that the Bill could not be passed and alleged that opposition parties celebrated its defeat while blocking what he described as an effort to ensure women’s representation.

He said these parties prioritised their organisational interests over national and women’s interests.

“Women will never forget the opposition to the Bill by these parties and will teach them a lesson when they see their leaders in their constituencies,” the Prime Minister said.

“Women have noted that these parties have taken them for granted,” he added, warning of political consequences for the Opposition over the outcome of the Bill.

He further said that the defeat of the Bill went against the spirit of the Constitution’s framers, adding that the proposal was not intended to take away anything from anyone but to expand representation.

“The Bill was an attempt to give women their right before the 2029 polls, an expectation that has been pending for 40 years,” he said.

The Prime Minister also accused the Congress of opposing women’s reservation over the years and alleged that efforts to introduce such measures had repeatedly been blocked.

The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, which sought to provide 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament, failed to secure the constitutionally required two-thirds majority. It garnered 298 votes in favour and 230 against, falling short of the 352 votes required for passage.

Earlier, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said that the defeat of the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’ amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha should not be seen as a setback for the Centre or the BJP, but as a “huge blow” to the nation caused by Congress and other opposition parties.

–IANS

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J&K: Detained MLA to vote through postal ballot for RS polls

Srinagar, Oct 18 (IANS) J&K government said on Saturday that the high court has been informed that the detained MLA, Mehraj Malik, will exercise his right to vote during the Rajya Sabha polls, and arrangements for the same have already been made.

The government has informed the High Court of J&K and Ladakh that necessary arrangements have been made to ensure that the detained Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA, Mehraj Malik, can exercise his vote in the Rajya Sabha elections.

Appearing before Justice Rajesh Sekhri, Senior Advocate Sunil Sethi, along with Senior Additional Advocate General Monika Kohli, submitted that the government had already dispatched the postal ballot to the competent authority to facilitate Malik’s participation in the Rajya Sabha election scheduled for October 24, 2025, official sources said.

The submission came during the hearing of an application filed by Malik, seeking permission to cast his vote and participate in the upcoming assembly session.

While the petitioners, led by Advocate Rahul Pant and a team of lawyers, pressed for urgent consideration of both prayers, the government’s counsel clarified that steps had already been taken to address the voting aspect.

“However, the Court noted that the government’s reply to the application was not yet on record. It directed the registry to ensure the reply is properly placed and scheduled the matter for further hearing on October 27, 2025, specifically to consider the second prayer regarding Malik’s physical participation in the assembly session commencing October 23.

“The Court also directed the government to ensure that the detained MLA is allowed to cast his vote in accordance with the law,” official sources said.

Mehraj Malik was detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA) after a dossier prepared on his activities said that he had been acting in a manner detrimental to the maintenance of law and order in Doda district of J&K.

–IANS

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MP: CM holds meeting on law and order, identified 228 Pak citizens to leave nation by Sunday

Bhopal, April 26 (IANS) A directive has been issued for 228 Pakistani nationals residing in Madhya Pradesh to depart from India by Sunday, April 27, 2025, official sources said.

Among them, 27 individuals are currently located in Indore, while Ujjain houses 22.

Information regarding all such individuals has been meticulously compiled by the Police of each district. Authorities have made it clear that those who fail to leave will face deportation.

These individuals represent diverse communities, including Hindus, according to the sources.

In the wake of the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav convened a high-level meeting on Saturday to assess the state’s law and order situation.

In his post on the social media platform X, Yadav emphasised the stringent implementation of directives issued by the Union Home Ministry during discussions held at the Police Headquarters in Bhopal.

The Chief Minister has mandated that all identified Pakistani nationals, excluding those holding long-term, diplomatic, or official visas, must vacate Madhya Pradesh within the prescribed timeframe.

Students from Jammu and Kashmir pursuing their education in the state are to be given special protection to ensure their safety, he further noted.

Yadav also instructed senior police officials to intensify surveillance at sensitive locations to uphold peace and order across the region.

Meanwhile, Pakistani nationals holding medical visas have been granted an extended validity until April 29, 2025.

The Central government, in response to the heinous act of terror in attack at Baisaran Valley in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, 2025 – which claimed the lives of 26 innocent tourists, including two foreign nationals and injured 20 others – has directed all state governments to identify and expel Pakistani citizens by the stipulated deadline.

This measure signals a resolute stance against Pakistan amidst increasing calls for stringent action from various quarters.

–IANS

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Bangladesh on the brink: Another uprising looms amid political and radical turmoil

New Delhi, Oct 10 (IANS) While many would have thought and hoped that Bangladesh would limp back to normalcy with the interim government announcing that elections would be held early next year, a close assessment of the situation in the country paints a grim picture.

Bangladesh watchers say that the situation in reality is worsening with radical groups calling the shots.

Even parties such as the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is fed up with the developments and its leaders are doubting whether or not a free and fair election would be held. There are also doubts whether an election would be held at all. While the political class are likely to iron out their differences taking the larger picture into mind, the worry for Bangladesh is the rift between the student leaders and the advisers of the interim government.

The August 2024 uprising led to the ouster of Sheikh Hasina and now what threatens the country is a battle between the students and the advisers of the interim government.

The students who led the August uprising went on to form the National Citizen Party (NCP). They said that they would contest the elections, likely to be held in February 2026. Many within the NCP have become extremely suspicious of some advisers in the Muhammad Yunus led interim government. They feel that some of them are negotiating with the political parties to secure an escape route from the government. While at first, the allegation appeared slightly soft, the aggression was out when NCP leader Sarjis Alam said that the only escape that remains open for the advisers was death.

Experts and watchers are seeing this as a clear sign of something big to come. It seems like a Nepal like scenario and we would not be surprised if the NCP led by the students take to the streets once again like they did in August.

In addition to all this is the ISI’s play in the country. The ISI has the Jamaat-e-Islami doing its dirty job in Bangladesh. For the ISI, a country in chaos would be suitable since an unstable Bangladesh threatens the security of India.

The ISI looks at everything with an India perspective and while helping terror groups set up camps and modules, it would also like chaos in Bangladesh.

Further the student leaders are growing suspicious of some of the advisers in the interim government. They feel that these persons are joining hands with the political parties to secure themselves. They are getting used to the comforts and would like to continue enjoying them after elections are held.

The student leaders who are part of the NCP also feel that the interim government has not delivered on promises the way they would have liked it to be. They had hoped that following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina, normalcy would be restored and they would have good administration that would take the country forward.

However since the August uprising and the installation of Yunus, Bangladesh has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. There is large scale radicalisation, the Islamists have run amok, the economy is failing, the ISI is calling the shots and the persecution against the minorities has risen to an all time high.

The NCP is pushing for the elections to be held. However now it doubts if those who are calling the shots including the Jamaat are interested in holding elections at all.

Further, even if elections are held, there are doubts if it would be free and fair. It is not just the NCP that has doubts, but it lingers on in the minds of the people as well. Many have said that they would not go out and vote since it would be an unfair election. All these developments and the tensions within the administration clearly indicate that another uprising could be on its way.

–IANS

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