Women are the backbone of every home: Pratibha Patil

CHENNAI: UPA Presidential candidate Pratibha Patil on Sunday launched her campaign saying women were the backbone of every home and they contributed greatly to the progress and development of the nation.

Addressing a massive women's rally organised by DMK here to support her candidature, she said even during independence struggle, women had contributed greatly and faced lathis and bullets even while feeding their families.

"Throughout my life, I have worked for the empowerment of women and this is a proud moment. It has been my privilege to serve society in many ways and capacities in the past 55 years", she said.

Patil said "secularism, social amity and inclusive growth of all citizens" were the basic principles of democracy.

"It is a great joy for me to watch the tremendous enthusiasm of women who took part in the rally in showing their love and affection for me", she said.

"It is a moving experience for me to see this vast number of women expressing their solidarity with me in this historic moment", Patil remarked.

Thanking Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, BSP and allies of UPA, especially DMK and its chief M Karunanidhi, she saluted Tamil Nadu women for their "leadership qualities, courage and determination".

She said India's was an ancient civilisation and it became a modern saga of success and grown into a strong and powerful nation that it was today.