Bangalore : BJP Mahila Morcha National President Smriti Irani on Wednesday appealed the party State organisation and Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar to field more women candidates in the forthcoming Assembly elections.

Speaking after inaugurating a State-level convention of BJP women elected representatives in Bangalore, Irani said women candidates have the potential to ensure victory to the ruling party and thus retain power.

Irani, who is also a Rajya Sabha member, said a large section of women voters in Bihar preferred BJP candidates during the Assembly polls.

“We take pride when women are given prominent positions or responsibilities. However, there is still a long way to go for their empowerment,” Irani said. Only 4.6 per cent of the police force comprise women, while it is 14 per cent in the IAS cadre and two per cent in the higher judiciary, she said.

Irani said women should play an active role during the forthcoming elections. “Chalk out a 100-day calendar of activity to engage the citizens and constituency ahead of the polls. Take the achievement of the government to the people,” she said.

No bail

Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar said the State government has initiated the process to
amend existing laws to take stringent action against perpetrators of crime against women.

The law should act as a deterrent to prevent crime on women in future, he said.

There should be no provision to provide bail to perpetrators of crime against women and cases pertaining to sexual offences against women be booked under the Goonda Act, he said.

He said the BJP government increased the reservation for women in rural and urban local bodies from 33 per cent to 50 per cent.

The government started 1.4 lakh women self help groups with a total membership of 20 lakhs, he added. The Bhagyalakshmi insurance scheme for the girl child has 15 lakh beneficiaries and the government so far has spent Rs 2,200 crore on the programme, Shettar said.

Wife behind victory: CM

Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar attributed his victory in the Assembly elections for four consecutive terms, to wife Shilpa Shettar.

“I have not been able to stay in my constituency (Hubli-rural) after I became leader of the Opposition (1999). But my wife looks after the constituency. She interacts with the people and campaigns for me,” Shettar said.

He said it was a matter of time before 33 per cent reservation was extended to women in Parliament and Assembly. “If my constitutency is reserved for women, I will vacate it,” Shettar said.-DH News