Leaders and members of parties will have to promote discussion and dialogue: Speaker Birla

Lucknow. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, while replying to a question about smooth functioning of the House during the upcoming budget session at a press conference in Lucknow, said that frequent planned deadlocks and disruptions in the House are not appropriate for the country’s democracy. When there is a disruption in the House, the biggest loser is the citizen whose problem was to be discussed. He said that we need to strengthen the culture of discussion and dialogue rather than creating disruption. He appealed to the leaders and members of all parties to cooperate in the smooth running of the House and said that in democracy the people are supreme, and our accountability towards the public is not only at the time of elections, but every day and every moment. Birla said that the presiding officers are not just the ones who conduct the proceedings, but they are the sentinels of the Constitution and guardians of democratic decorum. His impartiality, sensitivity and determination decide the direction of the House. Earlier, while delivering the valedictory address at the 86th All India Presiding Officers Conference held from January 19 to 21 at Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Bhawan, Lucknow, Birla said that a ‘National Legislative Index’ will be prepared to make the legislature more effective, public utility and responsive, so that healthy competition among the legislatures across the country, quality of communication and efficiency can be increased. He also informed about the formation of a committee in this regard. Birla said that a minimum of 30 meetings every year should be ensured in the state legislatures, so that the legislatures can become an effective platform for expressing the expectations and aspirations of the public. He said that the longer the House continues, the more meaningful, serious and result-oriented discussion will be possible. In the concluding session of the conference, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, Chairman of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council and Honorable Speaker of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly expressed their views.