Meira creates history, becomes first woman LS Speaker
Zeenews BureauNew Delhi, June 03: History was scripted on Wednesday as senior dalit Congress leader Meira Kumar, who was unanimously elected as Lok Sabha Speaker to become the first woman to hold the top Constitutional post, vowed to be a "neutral person".
The 64-year-old was elected after a resolution moved by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and seconded by Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee was approved by a voice vote amidst thumping of desks by the entire House.
Earlier, leaders cutting across the political spectrum, including Leader of Opposition L K Advani, Mamata Banerjee (Trinamool Congress), T R Baalu (DMK), Arjun Charan Sethi (BJD), Sharad Yadav (JD-U), Mulayam Singh Yadav (SP), Lalu Prasad (RJD), Ram Sundar Das (JD-U), Sharad Pawar (NCP), Farooq Abdullah (NC) and E Ahamed (Muslim League) also tabled their motions proposing Kumar's name for the post.
The assumption of office by Kumar, a former IFS officer and Union Minister, was hailed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh along with Advani and leaders of other parties, who hoped that she would ensure smooth functioning of the House.
Singh hailed the election of the MP from Sasaram in Bihar as a historic moment and said her services as a distinguished diplomat, 25 years in Parliament and her role as a Minister would stand her in good stead to execute her onerous job well.
Accepting the honour, Kumar vowed that she would leave no stone unturned in maintaining the dignity of the House and its members.
Recalling his association with Kumar's father, late Jagjivan Ram, the Prime Minister said she was an "embodiment" of the same qualities of "wisdom, knowledge and experience".
Accepting with humility and gratefulness the honour bestowed on her, Meira Kumar said it would be her principal duty to conduct the Lok Sabha in keeping with the Constitution, rules and traditions.
She said the assumption of the office of Speaker by a woman was a "historic" occasion in the 57 years of Parliament and it has come at a time when the Lok Sabha has a record number of women members.
Noting that she was aware of successful tenures of her predecessors from Ganesh Vasudev Mavlankar to Somnath Chatterjee, the Speaker said they had worked to promote the dignity of the post and that she would continue the search for better methods.
Seeking to disapprove of attempts to disrupt Parliament, she observed that no citizen would ever like that the working of the House should be disrupted while raising any issue concerning him.
"Disrupting of the work of Parliament does not allow the review of the work of government, its omissions and commissions by Parliament and the principles of democracy demand that this should not happen," Kumar said.
She said people were seeking good governance from MPs, whether they are on the ruling side or in the opposition.
"We must give them (people) good governance... People are looking at you (members) with high hopes and I am confident that you would make all efforts to make their lives better," Kumar said.
Kumar said the youth understood the value of their votes. "We have to give priority to the aspirations of young India. We have to do it in the earliest as the youth is impatient, which should also be the case."
Kumar pointed that the number of women MPs -- 58 -- was the maximum so far in the Lower House. "This highlights the fact that the Indian woman cannot wait any longer to set herself free from the bondages of the society and seek equal share on the path of development."
"We sent a good signal to every nook and corner of the country when two years ago we elected the first woman President. Today by electing the first woman Speaker of the Lok Sabha we have once again proved that we not only support empowerment of women but are also committed towards implementing it at the grass-roots level."
Kumar also thanked Protem Speaker Manikrao Gavit for conducting the business of the House efficiently in the last three days.
JD(S) chief H D Deve Gowda called upon all parties to maintain the "decorum and decency" of the House while participating in debates.
Meira vows to be neutralMeira Kumar sidestepped questions on whether she would resign from Congress in the wake of her election as Lok Sabha Speaker but made it clear that she will be a "neutral person".
"I will be a neutral person" was her refrain to questions on whether she would quit the party to maintain impartiality in conducting proceedings of the House.
Neelam Sanjiva Reddy has been the only Lok Sabha Speaker to resign from his party -- the Congress -- after being elected to the post in March, 1967.
Incidentally, Kumar's predecessor Somnath Chatterjee, the first Left leader to adorn the post, was expelled from CPI(M) last year after he refused to follow the party directive to quit Speakership after the Left withdrew support to the Congress-led UPA government over Indo-US nuclear deal.
When her views were sought on the long-pending Women's Reservation Bill, Kumar said there was no consensus on the measure which seeks to provide 33 per cent quota to women in Lok Sabha and State Legislatures. She hoped that all parties would work to evolve a consensus.
Referring to the election of the first woman President Pratibha Patil and her own election, she said these were not symbolic gestures but indicators of genuine intention of the government to make women's position stronger in the country.
Welcoming the election of Kumar as Speaker, CPI(M) and CPI members in the House made a strong demand for making 100 days of sittings mandatory.
"I am succeeding a very tall personality. The previous Speaker was a man of great stature. He conducted the House in the best possible manner under the prevailing circumstances," Kumar said when asked if she would act as a "headmaster" like Chatterjee.
However, she added that all circumstances were not similar and she would decide how to deal with a situation. To questions on frequent disruptions and whether MPs' salaries should be cut if they stall the proceedings, Kumar said she would speak to political parties and ensure that the set procedures and rules were followed.
Asked about the growing number of "tainted" members entering the portals of power, she said that the Election Commission had initiated reforms to prevent criminal elements from entering politics. "The people should also reject such candidates," she said.
Replying to a question whether a special package should be given to Bihar which has no representation in the Union+ Government, Kumar merely said Bihar needed development.
When queried about her personality and whether she gets angry and whether she cries, pat came the reply "I don't cry. But I get angry like any other person".
"My favourite colour is green. I am a green person," she said adding, the book she was reading now was 'Abhigyan Shakuntalam' by Kalidasa and the last movie she watched was Oscar-winner 'Slumdog Millionaire'.
Zeenews BureauNew Delhi, June 03: History was scripted on Wednesday as senior dalit Congress leader Meira Kumar, who was unanimously elected as Lok Sabha Speaker to become the first woman to hold the top Constitutional post, vowed to be a "neutral person".
The 64-year-old was elected after a resolution moved by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and seconded by Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee was approved by a voice vote amidst thumping of desks by the entire House.
Earlier, leaders cutting across the political spectrum, including Leader of Opposition L K Advani, Mamata Banerjee (Trinamool Congress), T R Baalu (DMK), Arjun Charan Sethi (BJD), Sharad Yadav (JD-U), Mulayam Singh Yadav (SP), Lalu Prasad (RJD), Ram Sundar Das (JD-U), Sharad Pawar (NCP), Farooq Abdullah (NC) and E Ahamed (Muslim League) also tabled their motions proposing Kumar's name for the post.
The assumption of office by Kumar, a former IFS officer and Union Minister, was hailed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh along with Advani and leaders of other parties, who hoped that she would ensure smooth functioning of the House.
Singh hailed the election of the MP from Sasaram in Bihar as a historic moment and said her services as a distinguished diplomat, 25 years in Parliament and her role as a Minister would stand her in good stead to execute her onerous job well.
Accepting the honour, Kumar vowed that she would leave no stone unturned in maintaining the dignity of the House and its members.
Recalling his association with Kumar's father, late Jagjivan Ram, the Prime Minister said she was an "embodiment" of the same qualities of "wisdom, knowledge and experience".
Accepting with humility and gratefulness the honour bestowed on her, Meira Kumar said it would be her principal duty to conduct the Lok Sabha in keeping with the Constitution, rules and traditions.
She said the assumption of the office of Speaker by a woman was a "historic" occasion in the 57 years of Parliament and it has come at a time when the Lok Sabha has a record number of women members.
Noting that she was aware of successful tenures of her predecessors from Ganesh Vasudev Mavlankar to Somnath Chatterjee, the Speaker said they had worked to promote the dignity of the post and that she would continue the search for better methods.
Seeking to disapprove of attempts to disrupt Parliament, she observed that no citizen would ever like that the working of the House should be disrupted while raising any issue concerning him.
"Disrupting of the work of Parliament does not allow the review of the work of government, its omissions and commissions by Parliament and the principles of democracy demand that this should not happen," Kumar said.
She said people were seeking good governance from MPs, whether they are on the ruling side or in the opposition.
"We must give them (people) good governance... People are looking at you (members) with high hopes and I am confident that you would make all efforts to make their lives better," Kumar said.
Kumar said the youth understood the value of their votes. "We have to give priority to the aspirations of young India. We have to do it in the earliest as the youth is impatient, which should also be the case."
Kumar pointed that the number of women MPs -- 58 -- was the maximum so far in the Lower House. "This highlights the fact that the Indian woman cannot wait any longer to set herself free from the bondages of the society and seek equal share on the path of development."
"We sent a good signal to every nook and corner of the country when two years ago we elected the first woman President. Today by electing the first woman Speaker of the Lok Sabha we have once again proved that we not only support empowerment of women but are also committed towards implementing it at the grass-roots level."
Kumar also thanked Protem Speaker Manikrao Gavit for conducting the business of the House efficiently in the last three days.
JD(S) chief H D Deve Gowda called upon all parties to maintain the "decorum and decency" of the House while participating in debates.
Meira vows to be neutralMeira Kumar sidestepped questions on whether she would resign from Congress in the wake of her election as Lok Sabha Speaker but made it clear that she will be a "neutral person".
"I will be a neutral person" was her refrain to questions on whether she would quit the party to maintain impartiality in conducting proceedings of the House.
Neelam Sanjiva Reddy has been the only Lok Sabha Speaker to resign from his party -- the Congress -- after being elected to the post in March, 1967.
Incidentally, Kumar's predecessor Somnath Chatterjee, the first Left leader to adorn the post, was expelled from CPI(M) last year after he refused to follow the party directive to quit Speakership after the Left withdrew support to the Congress-led UPA government over Indo-US nuclear deal.
When her views were sought on the long-pending Women's Reservation Bill, Kumar said there was no consensus on the measure which seeks to provide 33 per cent quota to women in Lok Sabha and State Legislatures. She hoped that all parties would work to evolve a consensus.
Referring to the election of the first woman President Pratibha Patil and her own election, she said these were not symbolic gestures but indicators of genuine intention of the government to make women's position stronger in the country.
Welcoming the election of Kumar as Speaker, CPI(M) and CPI members in the House made a strong demand for making 100 days of sittings mandatory.
"I am succeeding a very tall personality. The previous Speaker was a man of great stature. He conducted the House in the best possible manner under the prevailing circumstances," Kumar said when asked if she would act as a "headmaster" like Chatterjee.
However, she added that all circumstances were not similar and she would decide how to deal with a situation. To questions on frequent disruptions and whether MPs' salaries should be cut if they stall the proceedings, Kumar said she would speak to political parties and ensure that the set procedures and rules were followed.
Asked about the growing number of "tainted" members entering the portals of power, she said that the Election Commission had initiated reforms to prevent criminal elements from entering politics. "The people should also reject such candidates," she said.
Replying to a question whether a special package should be given to Bihar which has no representation in the Union+ Government, Kumar merely said Bihar needed development.
When queried about her personality and whether she gets angry and whether she cries, pat came the reply "I don't cry. But I get angry like any other person".
"My favourite colour is green. I am a green person," she said adding, the book she was reading now was 'Abhigyan Shakuntalam' by Kalidasa and the last movie she watched was Oscar-winner 'Slumdog Millionaire'.
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