Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

First woman Speaker

While the unanimity with which Ms Kumar has been elected Speaker is heart warming, the message being sent out is confusing. A major section of politicians and the media is giving the impression that Ms Kumar has been elevated to the post of Speaker because she is a Dalit and a woman. Her election is being held out as an example of Dalit and women’s emancipation.

Only if a person is elevated to the post of Speaker because of her ability will the elevation be a true measure of Dalit and woman emancipation.

Tandava Krishnan,

Secunderabad

This refers to the letter which argues that while appointing Ms Kumar as the first woman Speaker, leaders have ignored her social and economic status but considered her caste (June 5). The argument that only Dalits who have been deprived and discriminated against should be elevated to important posts is welcome. But does it mean the next generation of Dalits should be ignored? That would amount to restricting the reservation policy. A minimum of five generations of Dalits should be given reservation benefits, irrespective of their economic status.

G. Kannan,

Karur

K. Nehru Patnaik,

Visakhapatnam

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