Indore, July 9
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday said that “planned deadlocks” or shouting of slogans in legislatures can not solve the people’s problems, and dialogue between Opposition and ruling parties is the need of the hour.
Speaking at another function in the city, he also said that his efforts in the second term as Speaker would be to increase people’s faith in Parliament, and he expected high-level discussions in the 18th Lok Sabha from the members of all parties. Birla interacted with local public representatives at an event at the Indore Municipal Corporation earlier in the day.
“I want the House of the Indore corporation to become a model for other municipalities, municipal councils and panchayats with high-quality dialogues and innovations, as planned deadlocks or coming near the podium of a House and shouting slogans will not solve the problems of the people,” he said.
Problems of the people can be resolved only by the voicing of agreement and disagreement through a dialogue between the ruling parties and Opposition in any House, he added.
“Expression of views and opinions in a House gives clarity in functioning, fixes the accountability of the government and administration, and instils impartiality and honesty in the executive,” Birla added.
During the G20 Speakers’ summit in New Delhi last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked about India’s fair, transparent and accountable democratic system, and later delegations from several countries visited India to witness the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he noted.
The people’s faith in the democratic institutions in the country has increased, Birla claimed.
“Local bodies also have the responsibility to build on this trust by meeting the people’s expectations and aspirations. For that, we need to evolve a mechanism in the Houses (general bodies) of local bodies,” the speaker said.
Proceedings of the meetings of municipal councils and corporations should match the level of those in state assemblies, and basic issues such as water and sewerage should be discussed through question hours and zero hours, he added
Birla, who won the election from Kota constituency in Rajasthan and was elected Lok Sabha Speaker for the second consecutive time, was felicitated at a function here.
“During my new term (as Speaker), it will be my endeavour to increase the faith of the people in Parliament. I expect from all parties that there is high-quality discussion and dialogue on the problems, difficulties and challenges of the people,” he said.
People elect MPs with a lot of expectations and he will try to ensure that the views of all Lok Sabha members are expressed in the House, he averred.
Agreement and dissent are the strength of Indian democracy, Birla said, adding that India’s democratic journey has reached the 18th Lok Sabha through mutual dialogue and the country has moved forward on the path of development.
