Two Padma award winners have come out strongly in support of the long-awaited Women’s Reservation Bill, terming it a testament to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s steadfast commitment to gender equality in politics. Shashi Soni and Bheemavva Doddabalappa Shillekyathara voiced their approval on Thursday, calling on women nationwide to seize this opportunity for active participation in nation-building.
Speaking to media, Soni described the 33% quota in legislative bodies as a game-changer that opens new avenues for women’s voices in Parliament. She attributed the bill’s passage to Modi’s bold vision for politically empowering women, underscoring his role in overcoming years of delays.
‘Women today possess the power and capability to lead,’ Soni asserted, encouraging them to build resilience, advance with self-assurance, and maintain truth and dignity in public life. She advocated for balanced representation in Parliament, where women focus on creative discourse and national progress rather than chaos.
The awardee envisioned a future where increased female lawmakers provide a solid platform for idea-sharing and policy formulation. She highlighted how collaborative efforts at the community level would propel India toward greater prosperity and self-dependence.
Soni applauded the Modi government’s array of schemes that have granted women unprecedented freedoms to express themselves and lead. Viewing the reservation as a golden chance, she implored women entrants to Parliament to uphold integrity, foster harmony, and drive constructive reforms.
In a parallel statement, Karnataka’s Bheemavva Doddabalappa Shillekyathara, a Padma Shri recipient, expressed similar enthusiasm, thanking the Prime Minister and hailing the move as a major boost for women’s political strength and visibility.
