PM Modi Speech Live: PM attacks Congress, terms its politics 'parasite-like' over women's bill

PM Modi Speech Live Updates: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation at 8.30 pm tonight, a day after the Lok Sabha rejected the bill seeking to implement women's reservation in legislatures. "The Prime Minister will address the nation at 8.30 PM (April 18, Saturday)," an official said. During his address, the Prime Minister is expected to speak on the women’s quota issue and the developments in Parliament, where opposition parties voted against the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill on Friday. The Prime Minister's Office (PMO), however, has not given clarity on the subject on which he will address.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation at 8.30 pm on Saturday, a day after the women's reservation bill failed to pass in the Lok Sabha, his office announced. The PMO has not specified the subject of his address.

PM Modi is likely to address the implementation of the women’s quota and the developments in Parliament, where opposition parties voted against the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill on Friday.

During voting on amendments to the Women's Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha on Friday night, 298 members backed the bill, while 230 opposed it. Of the 528 members who cast their votes, the legislation needed 352 to secure the required two-thirds majority.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation at 8:30 pm tonight, a day after the Women’s Reservation Bill failed to clear the Lok Sabha.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday that the entire country has seen women’s aspirations being crushed

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday targeted opposition parties after the Women’s Reservation Bill failed to pass, alleging they prioritised politics over public interest. "Due to the opposition parties' narrow and self-serving politics, the mothers and sisters of our nation had to bear the consequences," he said.

He further alleged that some opposition groups celebrated the bill’s defeat, adding, "When the bill was defeated, these dynastic parties were clapping".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address to the nation, said the issue at hand was especially significant for the women of the country, noting concerns over stalled progress.

"Today, I am here to discuss an important issue, especially for the women of this country. Every citizen of this country is witnessing how women’s progress has stalled," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday criticised several opposition parties, including the Congress, DMK, TMC and Samajwadi Party, alleging that their “self-serving politics” had come at the cost of the country’s women.

He said that crores of women had been closely watching Parliament during the proceedings.

"It was deeply painful to see that when this proposal in the interest of women was defeated, parties like Congress, DMK, SP and TMC were applauding. By taking away women’s rights, they were thumping their desks," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address to the nation, criticised opposition parties over the defeat of the women's reservation proposal, alleging that "dynastic parties" had behaved insensitively after the outcome in Parliament. He said it was troubling to see the reaction of certain political groups following the voting on the bill.

"Dynastic parties were laughing after taking away women's rights," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address, said that millions of women across the country were watching Parliament closely during the proceedings.

"Yesterday, crores of women had their eyes on Parliament. The country's women's power was witnessing everything. It deeply pained me to see that when the proposal was defeated, dynastic parties like Congress, DMK, TMC and SP were clapping in joy," he said.

PM Modi said that women may forget many things, but not humiliation. "A woman can forget everything, but she never forgets her insult. The behaviour of Congress and its allies in Parliament will remain a lasting pain in every woman's heart," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address to the nation, issued a sharp warning to parties that opposed the Nari Shakti Vandan Amendment in Parliament.

"I will say clearly to those parties who opposed the Nari Shakti Vandan Amendment in Parliament yesterday: These people are taking women's power for granted. They are forgetting that women of the twenty-first century are closely monitoring every event in the country. They understand their intentions and are fully aware of the truth. Therefore, the opposition will surely be punished for the sin they have committed by opposing women's reservation," he said. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking on the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, accused several opposition parties of repeatedly blocking women’s rights under the guise of procedural objections.

"Congress, SP, DMK, TMC and other parties have made the same excuse all these years. Raising some technical issues, they have looted the rights of women. The nation has understood this ugly pattern of politics and has understood the reason behind this," he alleged. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his remarks, said he had expected the Congress to correct what he described as a long-standing mistake and “atone for its sins” by supporting the proposed amendment.

"Personally, I had hopes that the Congress would rectify its decades-old mistake, that it would atone for its sins. But Congress lost the opportunity to script history and stand in support of women. Congress has lost its existence in most of the regions of the country. Like a parasite, Congress piggyrides regional parties and keeps itself alive. But Congress does not even want regional parties to grow stronger. So, it hatched the political conspiracy of pushing the future of several regional parties into darkness by making them oppose this amendment," the Prime Minister said. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address to the nation, said national welfare remains the government’s priority, but alleged that some political parties place electoral gains above public interest.

"Nation’s welfare is our priority, but when political benefit becomes the priority for some people, even bigger than the nation’s welfare, the women of the country have to bear the burden for this. The same happened this time as well," he said. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address to the nation, said certain parties had not only opposed the Nari Shakti Vandan Amendment but also insulted the sentiments of the framers of the Constitution. "These parties also insulted the sentiments of the framers of the Constitution, and they will not be spared by the people's punishment for this," he said.

Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat, reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation, alleged that the government's move was politically timed and linked to upcoming state elections.

"Everything was pre-planned, and they were aware of it. One can say that, keeping in mind the elections in Bengal and Tamil Nadu, such a bill was introduced. If their respect for women is genuine and they are serious, then why didn't they implement the proposal from 2023? We are ready to stand with them on that. Secondly, Modi ji, your term has been completed. You have broken your own record by serving the longest tenure. Now, when we talk about matrushakti (women’s power), if tomorrow a woman becomes Prime Minister, we will welcome that," Bhagat said. 

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation, calling it partisan and inappropriate for a national broadcast. He said that a Prime Minister's address is expected to carry institutional dignity and avoid political messaging.

"A sitting Prime Minister’s address to the nation has a sanctity to it. It is meant to be a non-partisan address intended to build national resolve and confidence. This pathetic partisan and polemical attack – a Distress Address rather than a National Address - would have been more appropriate in a Press Conference. But as unhinged as he is by the extraordinary legislative humiliation he suffered in the Lok Sabha last night, the non-grihasthi Prime Minister is still too much of a coward to face the media," Ramesh said in a post on X.

A sitting Prime Minister’s address to the nation has a sanctity to it. It is meant to be a non-partisan address intended to build national resolve and confidence. This pathetic partisan and polemical attack – a Distress Address rather than a National Address - would have been…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the Congress and its allies, accusing them of spreading misinformation and "fanning divisions" over the issue of delimitation.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Saturday accused the BJP of polarising society along religious lines, while alleging that the party was speaking about women’s rights despite rising incidents of atrocities against women. "BJP is trying to divide society, sowing seeds of division among Hindu, Muslims, putting tribals against one another, committing atrocities against dalits and women," he said.