I am committed to a casteless society, says Meira Kumar

Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar completed a year in office on Thursday, She spoke to NDTV on this occasion abot her experiences as Speaker.

There is a vital issue in the country which has really divided the country, divided the government, divided the congress party and that is the issue of a caste census. What is your view on that? Do you believe that we should include caste in the census?

I have always worked towards a casteless society. I don't know when that time will arrive but we should be able to do away with these discriminations based on this caste system. So anything leads to that I would endorse.

But do you think that including caste in the census would perhaps further magnify that discrimination or is that the reality we live in or as Ajay Makan says, it takes away from more vital issues like development and other issues that particularly young politicians should be focusing on?

There are so many different opinions on that. I would again say that the ultimate aim of our country of our founding fathers, of the Constitution, of all of us, has been to establish casteless society. Anything which leads to that it would take us further to that direction is welcome by me.

But does a caste census take us to that goal?

I would not like to go into detail and comment on that because I don't think as a Speaker I should be doing that. But as somebody who is committed to casteless society, I would like to support any measure towards that.

What about the women reservation bill. You didn't need reservations to become a 5 time MP, a cabinet minister..of course you come from a distinguished political family.. But do you believe the women bill is truly historic and the only way to have more representation of women in politics?

There haven't been any reservations in our Parliament or in our Legislature since 1952 and this is the first time we have crossed 10 percent mark. Earlier we were below 10 percent which was not really very satisfactory. In all these years women really have not got any representation, so how do we do it. I don't find any other way of doing it.

Do you think this bill will realistically go through in the Lok Sabha?

Yes, you know it was hanging for the last 12 years and in the last session it was passed by the Rajya Sabha which is major step forward. But for it to come to Lok Sabha and to be passed here I think it is very important for various parties, all the parties, to arrive at a consensus.

And therefore you acknowledge that its much bigger challenge in the Lok Sabha to get this through?

It is a much bigger challenge to arrive at a consensus.. once there is a consensus, then there is no problem, so the parties will have to work on that.

So it cannot be pushed through the way it was in the Rajya Sabha?

The Lok Sabha has a large number of MPs, more parties and it is more articulate and vocal because of the numbers, so I think it will be important.

And you'd rather not bring marshals into the house to remove any MP on this?

Well I don't like the role of any marshals for this purpose, as I said in the beginning I have great respect for my MPs.

What about your own career.. you had such a distinguished career as an MP, as a Minister, in the foreign service and there is talk about you going back to politics.. some Congress leaders are whispering that they would like to project you as Chief Minister in Bihar. Do you really see yourself returning to politics?

These are speculations and you are asking me to comment on a speculation which I don't think it would be proper for me to do. And in any case I am not bothered about my future. What happens to me tomorrow that is not really a concern or obsession for me.

But you have played so many different roles in your life, in your career.. do you see yourself ever going back, I am not talking about Bihar but in a larger sense going back to active politics?

What happens to me tomorrow is not something which bothers me or something for which something I really plan. so today I won't be able to say that what is going to be tomorrow and I have no conscious deliberate plan as such and I am not really bothered about my future in that sense. In fact what concerns me is the future of the people living below the poverty line… the future of their children….. what is going to happen to them? That really is our concern actually.

There have been so many disruptions in the house in the last year. In the last session, 70 hours of business have been lost in the Lok Sabha. You are trying hard to push question hour to a different time so that minimizes disruptions. How are your consultations going on with political parties on that?

I would like to arrive to a consensus. That's what every body wants that is how we would like to proceed. So let's see what emerges.

What is your initial feedback? Do you think that political parties would welcome this or there is some resistance?

I'll not be able to comment on this because I am still in the process.

Finally ma'am again if you have to look at the last one year as the Speaker, what would you say was the highest point and the lowest point?

The highest point is that we were able to pass bills; we were able to have discussions on motion of thanks to the president's address, we were able to pass two budgets, two railway budgets and we had so many constitutional amendments that we were able to carry through and we also took a decision on something new which we introduced…..that is cut motions and debates on the demands for grants. So these were the things which we were able to do. Yes, on some days the house was adjourned and there were disturbances, the honorable members decided to come to the well of the house, the house was not able to run. Those were the days I was concerned and worried but next day was another day and we were transacting the agenda of the house.