Betraying an anti-woman streak, BJP’s Venkaiah Naidu demeaned women by saying that they are fit to rule states, but not India. His “Lady is Lady, Modi is Modi” formulation is that Jayalalithaa is suited for TN, while Modi is better for India. But various indices prove the lady is better. Higher GSDP {TN 3rd, Guj 5th}, FDI inflow {TN re15,252 cr, Guj re 2,676 cr in 2012-13}, software export {TN 3rd, Guj 11th}, IMR [Infant Mortality Rate] {TN 2nd, Guj 11th}, MMR [Maternal Mortality Rate] {TN 90/lac, Guj 122/lac} lower poverty {TN 11.3%, Guj 16.6%}. Crimes against women in Gujarat increased by 65% in the last decade compared with TN’s achievement of 25% fall. Rahul Gandhi, M K Stalin and Karat have all hailed the ‘TN Model’.
Geeta Seshu
