New Delhi, April 13 -- The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has issued a whip to its parliamentarians, directing their presence from April 16-18 for the special Parliament sitting to fast-track the implementation of 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought the support of political parties for the quota implementation. The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam was passed in 2023, but the reservation was to take effect only after a delimitation exercise and the ongoing census. The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the introduction of two bills during the special sitting for the quota implementation before the 2029 Lok Sabha elections and the setting up of a delimitation commission. In its three-line whip, the BJP called the presence of its lawmakers in the House mandatory. "No leave will be granted. Members are requested to strictly comply with the Whip and ensure their uninterrupted attendance in the House..." On Saturday, Modi wrote to political parties calling for "collective action" to ensure that the reservation is in place by the 2029 Lok Sabha and assembly elections. "From the 16th of April, a historic discussion related to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam is set to take place in Parliament. This special sitting is an opportunity to further strengthen our democracy," Modi wrote. Modi called the need for women's political participation central to India's long-term growth trajectory. "Any society progresses only when women have the opportunity to progress, make decisions, and more importantly, to lead," he said. He appealed to political parties to rise above partisan considerations. "This is a moment above any one party or individual. It is a moment to demonstrate responsibility towards women and our future generations," Modi said....