Nari Shakti Forum in Bengaluru backs Women’s Reservation Bill, hails PM Modi

Bengaluru: The Nari Shakti Forum (NSF) – a platform of women achievers in Bengaluru came together on Monday, and passed a resolution endorsing the Nari Shakti Vandan Bill (women’s reservation) and congratulating Prime Minister Narendra Modi for pushing it in Parliament ahead of the three-day special session, starting April 16.

Padmashri awardee Dr S G Susheelamma, founder of Sumangali Seva Ashram said women had fought for political power in gram, taluk, and zilla panchayats but the same representation was denied in Assemblies and the Parliament for years. “But today we are realising it under Modi’s leadership. We endorse the bill and congratulate him.”

Leading oncologist Dr Vijayalakshmi Deshmane termed it a significant moment that reflects the PM’s vision for Viksit Bharat. “We must be ready. I urge all political parties to endorse the Bill,” she said.

Arjuna awardee Ashwini Nachappa said she was deeply inspired by the PM’s vision of Nari Shakti. “Today, we will not ask why the Bill was rejected three times. We will celebrate the one man piloting it now. There is equal pay and equal prize money in sports, but it was not so in Parliament. The PM has made it possible,” she said.

Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje said despite women proving leadership in DRDO, ISRO, and sports, mindsets have not changed. “They ask, ‘Why now?” she said adding that Modi advocated ‘women-led development’, not just ‘women’s development’. “Women from diverse fields must enter politics on merit, not just family ties,” she added.

Former state women’s commission chairperson C. Manjula who moved the resolution said the social and spiritual leaders like Swami Vivekananda and Dr Ambedkar believed a country’s progress was not possible without women’s political leadership. “Today, Modi ji has pushed for enhancing the Parliament strength to 816 seats, with 273 reserved seats for women.”

State BJP president B Y Vijayendra termed the moment historic. “For India to become a developed nation by 2047, women’s political representation is essential. Modiji believes in women’s participation in decision-making,” he said.

Referring to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s remarks calling the Bill a “political gimmick,” Vijayendra urged him to withdraw the statement, terming it an insult to women power.