Protests during session should not violate dignity of the House: Lok Sabha Speaker

Om Birla says disruptions take away right of members to raise important issues

Coming down heavily on the stalling of legislature/parliamentary sessions due to protests, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Friday maintained that such disruptions take away the right of members to raise issues of public importance.

Delivering a talk on ‘Democracy: Protection of Parliamentary Values’ in a joint session of the State legislature, he stated that the protests held during the session should be in accordance with the dignity of the House as well as parliamentary norms. “Such disruptions come in the way of ensuring the fulfilment of responsibilities by the executive, as it would not be possible to debate important Bills,” he said. “This does not mean there should be no opposition or differences of opinion. In fact, opposition, differences of opinion, arguments, debates, and protests are all the basis of democracy. But protests should conform to the dignity of the House and should be in tune with the spirit of parliamentary norms.”