From the Times of India:Soft-voiced, seemingly unfit to instil order in the often chaotic Lok Sabha, Meira Kumar dismisses the criticism that her vocal chords are a handicap. She is confident that she would be heard in the House. The first woman Speaker, also a dalit, says her election has struck a chord with the marginalised.
That Kumar is confident of managing Lok Sabha and projecting herself as a symbol of women and dalit empowerment is good news for Congress which has authored the surprise move.
In a freewheeling interview with TOI, Kumar touches on issues ranging from scepticism of her soft voice to the caste factor.
From the Times of India:A Dalit woman as Lok Sabha Speaker! Indian democracy will cross yet another milestone with the Congress leadership deciding to nominate Meira Kumar for the post.
The surprise decision, which would mark the breaching of a glass ceiling besides boosting the empowerment message, came after Congress chief Sonia Gandhi pitched for Kumar to preside over the 15th Lok Sabha. She argued that the choice would facilitate the difficult task of enacting the women's quota in the legislature besides making a statement on the partys commitment to social empowerment.
The decision, far removed from the rumours doing the rounds, came at a meeting of the Congress core committee on Saturday afternoon.
AICC spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said, Congress would be creating a historical milestone by opting for the first dalit woman Speaker. In the past also, Congress chose the first woman PM, youngest PM, first woman President.
