NEW DELHI: Tribal leader Karia Munda of the Hindu-extremist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was elected deputy speaker of the Lok Sabha yesterday. Congratulating on his unanimous election, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said “he has been an accomplished social worker. He is also a man with quality of head and heart. We assure him full cooperation.”
Singh also complimented Munda, a seven-term legislator, for his “wealth of experience.” Munda’s election following Meira Kumar’s election as the speaker was a reflection of “growing empowerment” of downtrodden sections of society.
As both belonged to “disadvantaged” sections, their election “augurs well for the country,” Singh said. The move reaffirmed the commitment toward empowerment of the downtrodden, Singh said.
The motion for Munda’s election as deputy speaker was moved by leader of the opposition, L.K. Advani (BJP). Expressing appreciation for the post of deputy speaker being given to opposition, a trend begun in 1977, Advani said: “It is a healthy tradition and it should be continued.”
