Meira Kumar peppers proceedings with humour (Parliament Diary)

September 26th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Indian parliament's sittings should be increased to 110 days a year, Speaker Meira Kumar said Saturday. "We should increase the number of sittings (of parliament) to 110 days," the speaker told reporters here, adding that "disruption of the house proceedings is a major concern for everybody".

September 26th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar on Saturday said she could not remove the former BJP leader Jaswant Singh from the post of Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC), as there was no provision in the parliament proceedings to deal with such a scenario. "There is a rule which states that if for any reason the Chairman is not able to fulfil his duties for any reason then only can he be removed.

August 26th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar on Wednesday said the caste system is causing divisions in the society. "The issue is of concern.

July 30th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar Thursday mourned the death of Rajmata Gayatri Devi, the erstwhile maharani of Jaipur, saying she was "a distinguished member of parliament and an exemplary human being". Gayatri Devi, who was once considered one of the world's most beautiful women and always stayed in the limelight despite the fall of royalty in India, died in Jaipur Wednesday.

June 6th, 2009 TORONTO - The election of Meira Kumar as India's first woman and Dalit speaker figured in the Canadian parliament Friday, with Indian-origin MP Deepak Obhrai describing it as a "miracle" of Indian democracy. Obhrai, 58, who as the parliamentary secretary to Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon is the highest-ranking Indian in the government, said: "Wednesday, Meira Kumar was elected unanimously as the speaker of the 15th Lok Sabha, the lower house in the Indian Parliament." With her election, he said, Kumar has joined "other female leaders of India, the likes of Indira Gandhi, current President Pratibha Patil and business leaders like the CEO of ICICI Bank, Chanda Kochhar, all of whom inspire millions of women in South Asia".

June 6th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar paid floral tribute at the memorials of various prominent leaders here on Saturday. Starting with Rajghat, the memorial to the Father of India, Mahatma Gandhi, she also paid a visit to the memorials of her father, Jagjivan Ram and Indira Gandhi.

June 6th, 2009 TORONTO - The election of Meira Kumar as India's first woman and Dalit speaker figured in the Canadian parliament Friday, with Indian-origin MP Deepak Obhrai describing it as a 'miracle' of Indian democracy. Obhrai, 58, who as the parliamentary secretary to foreign minister Lawrence Cannon is the highest-ranking Indian in the government, said: "Wednesday, Meira Kumar was elected unanimously as the speaker of the 15th Lok Sabha, the lower house in the Indian Parliament." With her election, he said, Kumar has joined "other female leaders of India, the likes of Indira Gandhi, current President Pratibha Patil and business leaders like the CEO of ICICI Bank, Chanda Kochhar, all of whom inspire millions of women in South Asia".

June 3rd, 2009 NEW DELHI - Meira Kumar, who was elected the first woman speaker of India Wednesday, exhorted Lok Sabha MPs to put the elections behind them and address the social and economic problems facing the country. Speaking in the Lok Sabha after being elected to the coveted post, Meira Kumar, a five-time MP, said: The world is passing through its worst-ever recession and India is not separated from it.

June 3rd, 2009 NEW DELHI - After being unanimously chosen as Speaker of Lok Sabha, Meira Kumar reiterated on Wednesday that she would be impartial in executing her tasks as the presiding officer of the lower house of the parliament. "It would be my endeavour that I am completely impartial in my conduct and I will give opportunity to all the members to express their views.

June 3rd, 2009 NEW DELHI - Meira Kumar, the first woman speaker of the Lok Sabha, Wednesday said she would be impartial and give equal opportunity to all members to express their views. "It will be my endeavour that I am completely impartial in my conduct and I give opportunity to all the members to express their views," Meira Kumar said, addressing her first press conference after being elected speaker of the lower house of parliament.

June 3rd, 2009 NEW DELHI - Meira Kumar, the first woman speaker of the Lok Sabha, impressed the opposition MPs on her first day in chair, with many saying she will be a success in this role. "She was very impressive as speaker.

June 2nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - Congress leader Meira Kumar Tuesday filed her nomination for the post of Lok Sabha speaker. Her nomination, proposed by United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi, leader of the Congress in the house Pranab Mukherjee, leader of opposition L.K.

June 1st, 2009 NEW DELHI - Meira Kumar, who is set to take over as India's first woman Lok Sabha speaker, Monday expertly dodged persistent queries from waiting media persons, saying with a smile: "Wait till June 3" - the day of election for the post. Meira Kumar, 64, quit as cabinet minister for water resources Sunday.

May 31st, 2009 NEW DELHI - Union Water Resource Minister and Congress leader Meira Kumar called on Congress party President Sonia Gandhi on Sunday afternoon. The meet, which was held at 10, Janpath, Sonia Gandhi's residence, gave strength to speculations about her getting a nomination of Congress Party for the post of Lok Sabha Speaker.

May 30th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Congress leader Meira Kumar, popular known as the daughter of the former Deputy Prime Minister and prominent Dalit leader, Babu Jagjivan Ram and freedom fighter, Indrani Devi, hails from Bihar. Born in Patna in 1945, Meira Kumar has been law graduate and holds a Masters in English literature.