New Delhi, Jun 4 (PTI) As India got its first woman Lok Sabha Speaker, President Pratibha Patil today said the election of a Dalit woman with “honourable credentials” to the post has enhanced the prestige of the country’s democratic traditions.
Addressing a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament, the President also congratulated Lok Sabha members “for unanimously electing the Speaker and that too a woman who is a Dalit with honourable credentials.” “This has enhanced the prestige of India’s democratic traditions, that of the House and its members,” Patil said.
This is the first time in India’s political history that two high constitutional posts of President and Lok Sabha Speaker are occupied by women.
Patil has been the President of India for nearly two years while Kumar was chosen by Congress to occupy the post of Lok Sabha Speaker, which was backed by all other parties.
This time, the Lok Sabha also boasts of having a record number of 59 women members.
Opposition BJP today said Lok Sabha Speaker Mira Kumar should ideally resign from the membership of Congress to give the message that she would be neutral in the conduct of her official duties.
“The present Speaker should ideally resign from the membership of Congress as conventionally the Speaker does so and then regains it after the term gets over. Shivraj Patil and G M C Balayogi had resigned when they became Speaker,” Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj told reporters.
