The Hindu : National : Will ensure minorities' voice: Rahman Khan

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Friday, Jul 23, 2004

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National

Will ensure minorities' voice: Rahman Khan

By Gargi Parsai

NEW DELHI, JULY 22 . The Congress member from Karnataka, K. Rahman Khan, was today unanimously elected Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, after the Shiv Sena contender, Eknath Thakur, withdrew from the race.

Mr. Khan's name was proposed by the Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad, and seconded by the Minister of State, Suresh Pachauri.

Elected by voice vote

He was elected by a voice vote. The Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, who had also proposed his name, later conducted him, along with the Leader of the Opposition, Jaswant Singh, to the seat.

The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance and the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance set aside their differences, over the absence of the Minister of Coal and Mines, Shibu Soren, against whom warrants have been issued in a 1975 case of massacre, and together moved 12 sets of motions proposing Mr. Khan for the post. He replaces Najma Heptulla who held the position for about 16 years.

The new Deputy Chairman said he would try to enforce discipline with a human face. "The voice of the minorities has to be heard in the legislature and it is my job to ensure that."

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