In a fiery Saturday address to the nation, PM Narendra Modi hit out at the Opposition for blocking the passage of the constitutional amendment bill to implement women's reservation in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
Despite the bill garnering support from 298 MPs in the Lok Sabha, it faced stiff opposition from 230 other MPs—meaning it passed the simple vote tally condition, but failed to achieve the 2/3 majority required for it to finally pass through the Lok Sabha.
As expected, the failure of passage for the women's quota bill turned out to be the primary focus of Modi's speech on Saturday, in which he attacked the Opposition parties for being "anti-women", and declared that the ruling NDA government would continue to fight for women's rights in legislature.
Here are ten important quotes from his brief, but loaded, speech on the subject:
1) "Today, every citizen of India is witnessing how the march of India's women has been halted. The dreams of the country's women have been mercilessly crushed, and despite our utmost efforts, we could not succeed."
2) "I seek forgiveness from all women of the country."
3) "Opposition has committed a sin by opposing women reservation and they will be surely punished for this ... (They) have insulted our Constitution by defeating bill for women's reservation in legislatures."
4) "Family-run parties do not want women to move forward as women could end their selfish politics. India's women saw how parties like Congress, TMC and DMK celebrated their selfish politics against our women power."
5) "Parties like Congress, DMK, TMC and Samajwadi Party have committed foeticide by defeating bill on women reservation."
6) "This amendment Bill was an opportunity for all parties and states. Had the Bill been passed, seats in Tamil Nadu, Bengal, UP, Keralam and every state would have increased. But due to their selfish politics, these parties betrayed the people of their own states."
7) "Congress has always believed in politics of dividing people, so they spread falsehood about North-South divide."
8) "Congress stopped all reforms ... It stalled border issues with neighbouring countries. It stalled water disputes with Pakistan. It stalled OBC reservation decision for 40 years. It stalled One Rank One Pension for 40 years. This attitude of Congress has always harmed the country."
9) "Nari Shakti Vandan Amendment was the need of hour: an honest effort to ensure balanced empowerment across North, South, East and West."
10) "We may not have got 66 per cent votes, but we have got blessings of 100 per cent of women ... we will continue our fight."