Patil's nomination not to help women's cause: PMK

Chennai, July 2 (UNI) The PMK, a key ally of the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu, today said merely the nomination of Pratibha Patil by the UPA-Left for Presidency would not help realise 33 per cent quota for women in Parliament and state legislatures.

''Mere holding of women rallies will not ensure 33 per cent quota for them in State legislatures and Parliament,'' PMK founder S Ramadoss said, ridiculing DMK rally in the city yesterday to drum up support for Ms Patil.

''Leaders like Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and RJD chief Lalu Prasad had to be roped in for evolving a consensus on the issue of the women's representation,'' he said, talking to reporters after a protest demonstration condemning levying of capitation fees by the self-financing colleges for professional courses.

"Merely holding rallies and nominating a women to the highest constitutional post would not help in improving the overall condition of women" he said.

Accusing the DMK of meting out a raw deal to its alliance partners, Dr Ramadoss alleged that senior leaders of the DPA partners were not allowed to share the dais at the rally and protocol was cited as the reason.

''Where does the protocol come in when Pratibha Patel has already been declared as the candidate of the ruling party for the Presidential election,'' he asked.

''We are also holding big rallies like the one organised by the DMK yesterday, not only in Chennai but also in Delhi. Holding such rallies alone will not be of any use,'' he added.

UNI