Major political parties, barring the Pattali Makkal Katchi, have announced their support for the Women's Reservation Bill to be introduced in Parliament on Monday.
Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi had already indicated his stand, stressing the need to ensure reservation for women in legislature. He said quotas for backward classes and most backward classes could be implemented gradually.
On Sunday, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Jayalalithaa said her party would extend all possible cooperation for passing the Bill in Parliament.
In her International Women's Day message, she said though women were making a mark in all fields on a par with men, it was her wish that they should be given 33 per cent reservation in legislature.
“The AIADMK MPs will support the Bill in Parliament,” she said.
Ms. Jayalalithaa said that when she was Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu she introduced many pioneering schemes such as industrial estates for women, All Women Police Stations, Women Battalion, Women Commando Force and Women Self Help Groups.
Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Vaiko said it was happy news that women, who had secured many rights, including the rights to vote through continuous struggle, were likely to get 33 per cent reservation in legislature.
As far as the PMK is concerned, it is not against reservation for women but wants quotas for backward classes and most backward classes. According to its leader S. Ramadoss, the reservation would benefit only upper class women, in the absence of quota for BCs and MBCs.
The PMK's lone member Anbumani will oppose the Bill in the Rajya Sabha in its present form. He, however, will not vote against the Bill, the party said.
In his Women's Day message, Dr. Ramadoss said it was unfortunate that women in the lower rungs of society were not able to get economic independence.
“They are toiling in sand quarries, brick kilns and paddy fields. But what is remaining a stumbling block to their economic independence is the retail liquor shops,” he said and called upon all political parties and women's organisations to take a pledge to eradicate the evil on the occasion of International Women's Day.
