Priyanka Chopra hails passing of women's reservation bill as 'historic milestone'

'Here's to an India that truly supports and empowers its women!' Priyanka Chopra wrote on Instagram.

Priyanka Chopra Jonas on Sunday termed the passing of the women's reservation bill a "historic milestone", and added that the next step would be its swift and effective implementation.

The actor took to Instagram and welcomed the passing of the long-pending Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam bill in the Parliament earlier this week.

"Inspiring a new age with this historic milestone... The passing of the women's reservation bill - 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam' is indeed a step in the right direction, but the crucial next phase is its swift and effective implementation. Here's to an India that truly supports and empowers its women!" Priyanka Chopra shared on her Instagram story.

The Instagram story shared by actor Priyanka Chopra.

The bill to reserve one-third of the seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women received the parliamentary nod on Thursday as the Rajya Sabha unanimously voted in its favour. The Lok Sabha passed it on Wednesday. It will now require the approval of a majority of the state assemblies.

The last significant development on women's reservation took place in 2010, when the measure to reserve 33 percent of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies was passed by the Rajya Sabha amid a commotion. However, the bill lapsed because the Lok Sabha was unable to pass it.

Even though the BJP and the Congress have consistently backed the legislation, there have been major disagreements over it due to criticism from other parties and calls for a backward class quota inside the women's quota from some.

Many parties had presented a strong case for bringing and approving the women's reservation bill during the session at an all-party meeting on September 17.

The reservation, however, will come into effect only after the completion of the census and delimitation exercises. In the past, actors Kangana Ranaut, Bhumi Pednekar, Tamannaah Bhatia, Kirti Kulhari have also voiced their support for the bill.

Read more: Women’s Reservation Bill: Why It Can’t Be Implemented Now Despite Passage In Parliament