18 April,2026 10:18 PM IST | New India | mid-day online correspondent
PM Modi on Saturday addressed the nation. Pic/X
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday addressed the nation on the Women's Reservation Bill, saying 'we (government) made its best efforts'.
PM Modi's address comes a day after the rejection of the Women's Reservation Bill 2026.
He spoke about the challenges in advancing women's representation through recent legislative efforts.
In his address, the Prime Minister said that the progress of women in the country has slowed down despite efforts by the government. He noted that citizens across India are witnessing this slowdown.
Referring to the proposed changes in the Nari Shakti Adhiniyam, PM Modi said the amendments could not be passed.
He expressed regret over the situation and apologised to the women of the country, particularly mothers and daughters, for not being able to deliver the intended reform.
The Prime Minister reiterated that empowering women remains a key priority for the government and assured that efforts will continue to strengthen their role in governance and society.
The remarks come amid ongoing debates over women's reservation and representation in legislative bodies, which have seen sharp political differences and challenges in securing the required support for constitutional amendments.
PM Modi criticised several opposition parties after the defeat of the women's reservation amendment in Parliament.
In his address, Modi said that the nation's interest should always be above party politics. He alleged that some political parties placed their own interests ahead of the country, which led to the failure of the proposed reform.
The Prime Minister accused parties such as Congress, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Samajwadi Party of blocking the amendment.
He claimed that their actions had harmed women's empowerment and weakened efforts to improve representation.
PM Modi said it was "painful" to see opposition members applauding when the proposal was defeated in Parliament. He added that such reactions, in his view, were disrespectful to women across the country.
Referring to the proposed amendment, the Prime Minister said it aimed to ensure balanced empowerment across regions and strengthen representation for all states.
He described the move as a sincere effort that was ultimately blocked by the opposition.
PM Modi further alleged that some parties opposed the measure due to concerns about their internal leadership structures and political interests.
He said resistance to the bill reflected what he called an "anti-reform" approach, particularly targeting the Congress and its allies.
