New Delhi, April 18
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation on Saturday evening, a day after a major proposal to increase women’s representation in legislatures failed to clear Parliament. The address, scheduled for 8:30 pm, is expected to focus on the bill seeking a 33 percent reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies. The proposal was rejected in the Lok Sabha after failing to secure sufficient support.
Despite backing from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-led alliance, the legislation fell short of the required two-thirds majority. Of the 528 members who voted, 298 supported the bill while 230 opposed it—well below the 352 votes needed for it to pass.
