SHRI E. AHAMED (MANJERI): Yes. I was also elected to Kerala Legislative Assembly like that.
One of the most important qualities of Shri Sayeed is that he is sober; soft-spoken and unassuming and that has endeared him to one and all and he eminently deserve this position.
I am very happy that a member of the Muslim community has been given the first occasion to assume the Office of the Deputy-Speakership though the Muslim community deserves much more than this in this country.
Sir, I am sure that the manner in which Shri Sayeed has been conducting the House will also follow the example set by yourself and your distinguished predecessor giving more consideration to the small parties in this House. I am sure that Shri Sayeed will definitely maintain his sober and level-headed quality in conducting the Business of this House.
Sir, for our brothers in Lakshadweep, it is a day of happiness. They will be just watching each and every word spoken by the Prime Minister, Shri Chandra Shekhar, Shri Gujral, Shri Sharad Pawar and all other Members here. It will be a great day for the people of Lakshadweep and it will also be a great day for this House for having elected a popular Member as the Deputy-Speaker of this House.
Sir, he is a man who knows Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, Hindi and what not, all the languages. It will not be very difficult for any Member of the House to interact with him. Sir, I take this opportunity once again to felicitate him on behalf of my Party, the Indian Union Muslim League and on my own behalf and wish him good luck and God speed.
Sir, I appeal to yourself and also to the Deputy-Speaker that we are the smaller group in this House. But what about the smallest baby? The former Speaker Shri Balram Jakhar is here. The former Deputy-Speaker, Dr. M. Thambi Durai is also here.
In 1984 when the BJP was having two Members, Shri Balram Jakhar was the Speaker and Shri M. Thambi Durai was the Deputy-Speaker. They used to give chances to the smaller parties. Now, the BJP has grown from 2 to 182.
We may be small in number, but we have got a national view and we have got a say on different issues which should be reflected here so that the nation could know about it.
Sir, through you, I would again like to congratulate Shri P.M. Sayeed, as the new Deputy-Speaker.
Sir, I think, this election also makes me proud that the whole world can see that there has been a social transformation that two powerful officials of Parliament, the Presiding Officers, are not only highly educated, but also represent the deprived communities of this country. I think, this message to the world will be a great message, this empowerment that is taking place gradually, the unity of the country that is coming about.
I would urge Shri P.M. Sayeed to give me some special consideration because I proposed his name.
I wish him well and we are all very very happy and proud of this day and his election.
* Original in Tamil
MR. SPEAKER: Shri P.M. Sayeed has got a lot of affection. That is why, every Member wants to speak.
* Original in Manipuri
SHRI B.M. MENSINKAI (DHARWAR SOUTH): Mr Chairman Sir, today I am
supremely happy, Shri P.M. Sayeed a great lover of Kannada language and Kannada culture, has been elected as the Deputy Speaker of this august House. There are three hon. members from our party Lok Shakti and from the State of Karnataka totally there are 28 members. All of us are being chances by Shri P.M. Sayeed to speak and to ventilate our grievances in this House.
Shri P.M. Sayeed is an eminent and experienced parliamentarian. He is an impartial leader and possesses all good virtues. I, on behalf of my party express my heartiest congratulations to him. I also assure him that we will give him our full cooperation in conducting the business of Lok Sabha. Sir, I request to please put him in the Chair during zero hour. He knows the knack of handling zero hour in a more scientific and systematic manner. All the members of this House are happy about his elevation to the post of the Hon'ble Deputy Speaker and I am sure that all of us will cooperate with him. I wish him long life, great strength and all success and with these words I conclude my speech.
* Original in Kannada
Shri P.M. Sayeed is an embodiment of the virtues that make an effective parliamentarian. Conscientious, sharp, knowledgeable and affable, Shri Sayeed has abiding faith in the efficacy of the parliamentary institutions and respect for opposing viewpoints. He has been representing Lakshadweep in the Parliament for over 30 years. To be precise, this is his ninth term as a Member of the Lok Sabha. This speaks of his popularity in his constituency.
Shri Sayeed has judiciously blended his roles as a representative of the constituency and as a member of the national Parliament. His contributions as a member of the House and as member of various House Committees and Joint Committees, have been highly appreciated. His in-depth knowledge of rules and conventions and understanding of our parliamentary traditions have helped him to run the House smoothly as a member of the Panel of Chairmen.
His two tenures as a Central Minister during 1979-80 and 1993-96, have also enabled him to have first-hand experience of the working of our Executive.
I compliment the hon. Members for electing a person of such long experience, high stature and integrity as the Deputy Speaker.
I wish Shri P.M. Sayeed all the best in his new role as the Deputy Speaker of the House.
People who come to see P.M. Sayeed, Member of Parliament elected nine times over, often visualise him as an old person of snow-white hair and flowing beard. They get jolted by surprise on seeing only a person past the middle age, thus, their imagination not squaring up with reality. What can I do? My island people caught me young. They returned me to this House for the first time when I was just 26 years of age. Now, at 57 years, age has not necessarily withered me nor has custom staled me to my people. They have remained steadily with me and unfailingly returned me to this House since 1967, with an average voter turnout of 85 per cent, highest in the country.
Indeed, the relationship between my islanders and me is one of abiding romance. My election is a tribute to my people. I thank with immense gratitude my people who are ultimately responsible for where I am today.
I represent Lakshadweep, the smallest constituency in our country of nearly one billion. The size of my electorate is only about 40,000 as against the country's total electorate of nearly 500 million and average electorate size per constituency of around one million. My election, in this background, has a significant message that the forces of national integration which are neutral to the magnitude of geographical regions have triumphed.
It was the late Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi who held the concerns of the island people driven to geographical isolation dear to his heart. To take them on board the mainstream of our political, social and economic life, he created the Island Development Authority. On this occasion of my election as the Deputy-Speaker, let me pay homage to his soul and spirit.