"Unfortunately, it comes with a caveat," NCP leader Vandana Chavan on Women's Reservation Bill

"We are very happy that the Women Reservation Bill has ultimately seen the light of day. Unfortunately, it comes with a caveat, it says that after census and delimitation. I don't see why this should be put in. If we genuinely want to give reservations to women, if we want to take them into the decision-making process at the state level and the Parliament level. It can be done even now it can be done in the 2024 elections, so why are we delaying it," Chavan told ANI.

The Rajya Sabha member further added, "Delimitation is not a simple thing for our country. It's not going to be a smooth process. If this entire process takes a long time, we are just delaying the reservation for women. We, however, will not oppose the bill, we will support it but really, it is as they say a 'jumla'."

Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Womens Reservation Bill which provides for 33 per cent reservation for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023, was passed after a reply by Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal.

The Bill was passed following division with 454 members voting in favour of the legislation and two against it on the motion for the passage moved by Meghwal. The amendments moved by opposition members were negatived and there was also voting on clauses of the bill.

Speaker Om Birla announced that the Bill had been passed.

The 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam' is the first bill passed by Lok Sabha after it shifted to the new Parliament building on Tuesday. (ANI)