Karunanidhi meets Sonia Gandhi, demands early passage of Women’s bill
Karunanidhi met the Congress president at her 10, Janpath residence here and the two are understood to have discussed the latest political situation in the country.
Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi today met UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and demanded the early passage of the Women's Reservation Bill in Lok Sabha.Karunanidhi, who is here on a three-visit, met the Congress president at her 10, Janpath residence here and the two are understood to have discussed the latest political situation in the country.The DMK chief will meet prime minister Manmohan Singhlater in the evening.The chief minister and Gandhi were closeted for over 30 minutes during which issues like the early passage of Women’s Reservation Bill that provides for 33% reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies in Lok Sabha came up for discussion.The bill was passed by Rajya Sabha by a two-thirds majority on March 9 with the support of BJP and Left parties.
The DMK chief said, "I told Sonia Gandhi that steps should be taken to pass the Women’s Reservation Bill in Lok Sabha as soon as possible."
He is also understood to have brought to Gandhi’s notice the need for Parliament to pass with two-thirds majority the Tamil Nadu Assembly resolution to revive the Legislative Council, which was abolished by the then chief minister M G Ramachandran in 1984.It was not clear whether the controversy surrounding telecom minister A Raja over the 2G Spectrum figured during the meeting. The DMK chief was accompanied by his daughter-MP Kanimozhi and grand nephew and Union textiles minister Dayanidhi Maran.Karunanidhi had yesterday backed Raja and virtually ruled out his resignation as demanded by Opposition parties over the 2G Spectrum controversy.
Asked whether he discussed any political issue with Gandhi, the DMK chief said, "There is more time for the Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu to come…."Asked whether inter-state water disputes came up for discussion, he replied in the negative.
This was Karunanidhi's first visit to the national capital after he left Delhi in a huff last May saying Congress’ formula on cabinet berth allocation was not acceptable. But, six days later seven DMK nominees were inducted into the cabinet after the two parties arrived at a compromise.