CHENNAI, OCT 14 : Asserting that the Women’s Bill was passed in

Parliament due to the relentless efforts of the Congress, its past President

Sonia Gandhi on Saturday said Tamil Nadu stands as a beacon for women

empowerment.

Addressing the DMK Women’s Rights Conference here this evening, she

recalled the various steps taken by the DMK governments and its late leader

M.Karunanidhi for women empowerment and protecting their rights.

On the Women’s Bill, which paves way for 33 per cent reservation in Parliament

and State Legislatures, she said the Bill was passed due to our persistence efforts,

but it still a long way to go” .

She also questioned the Centre on when the Bill would be implemented.

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi urged the Centre to immediately

implement the Women’s Bill and stop glorifying women’s tolerance on atrocities

perpetrated on them.

A host of women leaders from the opposition INDIA bloc addressed the conference

which was presided by DMK President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.Stalin, who

in his address recalled the various welfare measures launched by the DMK regimes,

led by Mr Karunanidhi and also by his government, including free travel in buses and

Rs 1,000 per month for women heads of families.(UNI)