Thursday, August 25 2005 14:50 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: Demanding immediate reservation for women in Parliament and state legislatures, the Dravida Munnetra Khazhagam (DMK), a key constituent of the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) at the Centre, today (Aug 25, 2005) aid it was totally 'unacceptable' to wait continuously for a consensus on the issue.

Though 'responsible persons' were waiting patiently for reaching a consensus, it could be used for deferring a decision, DMK President M Karunandihi said in a statement in Chennai.

Quoting French intellectual Walter Rousseu, Karunanidhi said when there were differences, majority view should be construed as consensus. 'We must ponder over Rousseu's views on this', he said.

On the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Khazhagam (AIADMK) Supremo Jayalalthaa's suggestion of revival of double member constituencies, he said it might become a hindrance for achieving reservation for women.

'If we want to create more seats to accommodate women, it means that the men are not prepared to give away the women their due share', he said.

On the demand of sub-reservation for backward and most backward class women in the women's reservation, Karunanidhi said at present, there was no separate reservation of seats in the Parliament and state legislatures for men or women or for any community.

"What we want is reservation of 33 per cent seats to women in the Parliament and state legislatures, within the existing number of seats. Let us first do it and we can think of step by step on sub reservation", he said.

Though there was no ban on women from contesting the polls now, the male dominated society did not permit them to do so, Karunanidhi said and asked how long women had to fight for their rights.

"That is why we are demanding separate reservation for women, who will lay the foundation for getting women their rights", he said.

He said all political parties should come forward to co-operate in providing reservation for women, following the precedent set by the constitution, which reserved some seats for dalits, without decreasing or increasing the number of seats in the Parliament and state legislatures.