Chennai, July. 1 (PTI): UPA Presidential candidate Pratibha Patil today launched her campaign saying women were the backbone of every home and they contributed greatly to the progress and development of the nation.

Addressing a massive women's rally organised by DMK here to support her candidature, she said even during independence struggle, women had contributed greatly and faced lathis and bullets even while feeding their families.

"Throughout my life, I have worked for the empowerment of women and this is a proud moment. It has been my privilege to serve society in many ways and capacities in the past 55 years", she said.

Patil said "secularism, social amity and inclusive growth of all citizens" were the basic principles of democracy.

"It is a great joy for me to watch the tremendous enthusiasm of women who took part in the rally in showing their love and affection for me", she said.

"It is a moving experience for me to see this vast number of women expressing their solidarity with me in this historic moment", Patil remarked.

Thanking Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, BSP and allies of UPA, especially DMK and its chief M Karunanidhi, she saluted Tamil Nadu women for their "leadership qualities, courage and determination".

She said India's was an ancient civilisation and it became a modern saga of success and grown into a strong and powerful nation that it was today.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi said Patil would work for the implementation of 33 per cent reservation for women, after taking over as President.

He said Patil had worked in various capacities and had been a Minister.

In an apparent reference to AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa's criticism of Patil, he said the former Rajsthan Governor had worked as a `responsible opposition' leader unlike those who had criticised her. Patil's speech showed that she knew more than those who were criticising her, Karunanidhi added.

Patil, Karunanidhi, Congress spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan and Veerappa Moily, who is in charge of Tamil Nadu Congress affairs, were on the dais.

TNCC President M Krishnasamy, PMK founder S Ramadoss, CPI-M state Secretary N Varadharajan, CPI state Secretary D Pandian and Dravidar Kazhagam President K Veeramani were seated beside the dais.

Women riding horses and holding the DMK flag, came in the forefront of the rally, while women cadres of DMK and alliance parties from all over the state followed holding placards of Sonia Gandhi, Karunanidhi, Dravidar Kazhagam founder 'Periyar' E V Ramasamy and DMK founder C N Annadurai.

Placards on women's equality and DMK's achievements for women's welfare were also carried by the rallyists. Some of the women cadres were dancing to the music played the accompanying group.