New Delhi June 26 : Shri Om Birla was re-elected as the Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha, today. Pro-tem Speaker Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab conducted the election process. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi moved the motion for election of the Speaker, which was seconded by Defence Minister Shri Raj Nath Singh. Union ministers, leaders of parties and other Members of Parliament also moved motions calling for the re-election of Shri Birla. Shri Arvind Ganpat Sawant, MP moved the motion for election of Shri K. Suresh, MP as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. Among others, the motion was seconded by Shri N.K. Premachandran, MP.
The motion was put to vote by Pro-tem Speaker Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab and after voting, Shri Om Birla was declared the Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha. Thereafter, Shri Mahtab invited Shri Birla to take the Speaker’s Chair and conduct the proceedings of the House. Leader of the House, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the House and congratulated Shri Birla on his historic victory.
On the occasion, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Shri Rahul Gandhi, Union Ministers, party leaders and other Members of Parliament congratulated Shri Birla on his historic re-election as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Birla thanked Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, leaders of parties in the House and Members of Parliament for their support.
On behalf of the House, Shri Birla expressed gratitude to the people of the country for their active participation in the world’s largest celebration of democracy (elections) for the 18th Lok Sabha. He also thanked the Election Commission for its fair, undisputed and transparent conduct of the elections. Referring to the formation of the NDA government for the third consecutive time under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Shri Birla said that in the last decade, the expectations, hopes and aspirations of the people towards the government have increased and hence it becomes the responsibility of public representatives to make collective efforts to effectively fulfill the peoples’ expectations and aspirations.
Shri Birla urged all the Members that there should be a new vision and resolve for the 18th Lok Sabha. He called for the 18th Lok Sabha to be a centre of creative thinking and new ideas, which would establish high levels of parliamentary traditions and dignity. Shri Birla added that there should be a dignified discussions of agreement and disagreement by the ruling side and the opposition in the House. He added that the aim of the House should be to fulfill the resolve of Viksit Bharat.
Expressing happiness over the presence of 281 first-time MPs in the 18th Lok Sabha, Shri Birla welcomed them in the House and expressed hope that the Members elected for the first time will make a deep study of the rules and traditions of the House, and take advantage of the experiences and guidance of their senior colleagues to enrich the best parliamentary traditions.
Shri Birla expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for establishing the finest tradition of celebrating Constitution Day. He added that under the guidance of the Prime Minister, ‘Know Your Constitution’ campaign was started so that the younger generations of the country can understand their constitutional duties and responsibilities and make their best contribution to the development of the nation.
Speaking about the functioning of the House, Shri Birla said that in a democracy, Members of Parliament are elected from diverse backgrounds and ideologies, and there may be ideological opposition, but discussions in the House must be dignified. He added that there should be positive criticism of the government’s policies and decisions, but there should be no pre-planned disruption of House proceedings. There must be a difference between protest in Parliament and protest on the streets. Shri Birla said that the conduct of Members in Parliament should be courteous and meaningful dialogue should take place in a healthy environment. He added that to run the House, the consent of all parties and cooperation of all is necessary.
On the occasion of completion of 50 years of Emergency imposed on 26 June 1975, Shri Birla praised the strength and determination of all those who strongly opposed the Emergency, fought and protected India’s democracy.
Describing the day of June 25, 1975 as dark chapter in the history of India, Shri Birla said that on this day the then Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi imposed emergency in the country and launched a fierce attack on the Constitution written by Baba Saheb. Shri Birla said that India is recognized around the world as the mother of democracy where democratic values have always been encouraged. He added that a dictatorship was imposed on India by Smt. Indira Gandhi when India’s democratic values were forgotten and freedom of expression was stifled. He further said that during the Emergency, the rights of the citizens were destroyed and their freedoms were taken away. This was the period when opposition leaders were jailed and the entire country was turned into a jail.
Shri Birla further said that at that time the dictatorial government had imposed many restrictions on the media and also curbed the independence of the judiciary. That time of Emergency was a period of injustice in the history of our country. Shri Birla said that after the imposition of Emergency, the Congress government of that time took many such decisions which crushed the spirit of the Constitution. Referring to several decisions taken at that time, Shri Birla said that the aim of all those decisions was to vest all the powers of the state with one person. Shri Birla added that during the Emergency, the then government tried to destroy the basic principles of the Constitution by establishing control over the judiciary. Shri Birla described the then Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi’s concepts of committed bureaucracy and committed judiciary as anti-democratic attitude.
Shri Birla said that during the Emergency, the then government destroyed the poor and the deprived. He mentioned the brutal policies of compulsory sterilization and encroachment removal forced upon people by the Government during the Emergency. Shri Birla said the Emergency was a black spot which tried to undermine the principles of the Constitution, the federal structure and the importance of judicial independence. He added that the Emergency reminds us that it is necessary to protect the Constitution and constitutional values.
Shri Birla expressed confidence that the 18th Lok Sabha will uphold its commitment to preserve and protect the Constitution created by Baba Saheb. Shri Birla noted that the 18th Lok Sabha will remain committed to the rule of law and decentralization of powers in the country. Shri Birla recalled the faith of the people of India in the constitutional institutions and the unprecedented struggle that led to the end of the Emergency and the establishment of constitutional rule once again.
Shri Birla said that due to government oppression during the Emergency, countless people had to suffer and their families had to endure immense suffering, which ruined the lives of many citizens of India. The House observed a two minutes silence remembering the citizens of the country who were harmed during the Emergency.
