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Indian Parliament gets its first Dalit woman Speaker
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-06-03 15:56

Indian Parliament gets its first Dalit woman Speaker
Congress Party member Meira Kumar arrives for the opening session of the 15 Lok Sabha at Parliament in New Delhi, on June 1. [Agencies] 
Indian Parliament gets its first Dalit woman Speaker
NEW DELHI -- Indian Parliament Wednesday elected its first Dalit, or lower caste, woman Speaker, Meira Kumar, a five-time member of parliament and former cabinet minister in the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.

Kumar, 64, was unanimously elected to the top constitutional post in Lok Sabha (Lower House) after UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi proposed her name to the Indian Parliament and Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee seconded the proposal, with members cutting across party lines approving her candidature by voice vote.

Congratulating Kumar, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said, "I salute you. You are embodiment of the same qualities of head and heart. You have a distinguished record -- as a diplomat, as a parliamentarian for 25 years and as minister in the government of India. You are the embodiment of charm, grace and tact."

Leader of Opposition L.K. Advani of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also congratulated Kumar, the daughter of late Indian Prime Minister Jagjeevan Ram.