Members of the AIADMK and the DMK had a heated argument in the Assembly on Wednesday over who introduced 33 per cent reservation for women in local bodies.
As the Ministers kept intervening frequently when former Minister and DMK member Geetha Jeevan was speaking on the demand for grants for social welfare, Opposition leader M.K. Stalin said there was no need for them to intervene as she was not raising any question. “Even Chief Minister Jayalalithaa said there would be no intervention if the members had not posed questions,” he said.
However, Fisheries Minister D. Jayakumar said they had to intervene since Ms. Jeeavn had given incorrect information to the House.
“It is the AIADMK government led by Amma that gave its nod for implementation of 33 per cent reservation for women in local bodies,” he said.
Mr. Stalin retorted that it was the DMK government which ensured 33 per cent reservation for women in 1996 local body elections. “You could have given the nod for the reservation but never bothered to implement it,” he said.
Local Administration Minister S.P. Velumani said since the DMK captured power in 1996, it conducted the local body elections. “But it is our leader who also increased reservation to 50 per cent,” he said.
Fisheries Minister D. Jaykumar intervened to say, “We cooked every thing and you ate them.”
