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Jayalalithaa reiterates support for Women's Bill

By Santosh | 12 March 2010

Tamilnadu's main opposition leader J Jayalalithaa has expressed strong support for the Women's Reservation Bill.

She said the passage of the bill in the Rajya Sabha is a small but historic step in its troubled journey.

Jayalalithaa, a former chief minister, who ran the government of Tamilnadu for two terms, congratulated all political groups that voted in favour of the bill.

She said half of India's population are women and the bill will end discrimination against them.

The bill should be passed by the Lok Sabha or the Lower House of Parliament to become law. The Rajya Sabha, the Upper House of Parliament approved the bill by 186-1 votes.

Two allies of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, opposed to the bill, halted parliamentary support to his government.

The bill allows a quota 33 percent seats in Parliament and state legislatures for which only women can contest.