JAMMU: For the first time a woman legislator chaired the Upper House proceedings in the Legislative Council here on Thursday.
National Conference MLC Shahnaz Ganai, who was nominated as Vice Chairperson of the panel constituted by the Chairman Legislative Council yesterday, chaired the House for a brief period from 1228 hours to 1301 hours when the Minister of State Finance Ajay Nanda was delivering his speech on the State Budget.
As Deputy Chairman, Jahangir Mir was not present in the House, the Chairman, who had to leave the Chair, asked Ganai to chair the proceedings.
However, it was reportedly in the history of the Legislative Council that for the first time, a woman conducted the House proceedings.
“It was an honour for me,” Ganai said, adding that by such gestures, women members feel more empowered and freely participate in the discussions of the House.
“When in chair, we cannot be biased to any party or give favouritism to anybody,” she said adding that one has to treat everyone at par and equally give chance to every member representing political parties to raise their voice.
Ganai will be retiring from the Upper House in December 2018.
Pertinent to mention in the last few decades, Depender Kour, Farida Muneer, Rani Gargi Baeloria (sitting), Sakina Ittoo and Shamima Firdous (sitting MLA), remained in the Upper House but never got opportunity to chair the House proceedings.