Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday launched the inaugural issue of Vidhan-Chetna, the quarterly journal of the Delhi Legislative Assembly, along with the release of the Proceedings of the Central Legislative Assembly (1924-1930) published across 89 volumes.
Birla appreciated the legislature’s initiative, stating that the Delhi Assembly has filled an important gap in preserving the country’s legislative history through the systematic publication of these rare debates and proceedings.
Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju was present on the occasion. Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta, Deputy Speaker Mohan Singh Bisht, and Delhi Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh, along with MPs, MLAs, and professors of Delhi University, also attended the event.
Addressing the gathering, Birla noted that it was from this very House that the fight for representative rights gained momentum and where several national leaders raised their voices against oppressive colonial laws through historic debates.
Birla lauded the efforts of Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta for his initiatives to preserve legislative proceedings and records from 1924 onwards into 89 volumes, stating that they would serve as an invaluable resource for future generations to understand the functioning, dignity, and resilience of democratic institutions during colonial rule.
Recalling the contribution of Vithalbhai Patel, the first Indian Speaker of the Central Legislative Assembly, Birla said that he steadfastly upheld the dignity of the House, the impartiality of the Chair and the sanctity of the Speaker’s office.
Speaking on the occasion, Kiren Rijiju observed that the history of the Delhi Assembly is deeply intertwined with the history of Parliament, as the building had once functioned as the Central Legislative Assembly and occupied a central place in the country’s parliamentary journey.
He said that the initiative to publish “Vidhan-Chetna” and preserve historical proceedings would help connect legislative functioning with the academic world and educate future generations about democratic traditions, constitutional practices and institutional heritage.
Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta said that parliamentary proceedings provide the most authentic insight into the nation’s conditions and the realities of the era.
He highlighted a historic incident of this House, where Speaker Vitthalbhai Patel compelled the Commander-in-Chief of the British Indian Army to appear before the Assembly and apologise for disregarding the dignity of the House.
Gupta said that such proceedings reflected the courage, institutional strength and democratic values upheld by Indian representatives even under colonial rule.
According to the Speaker, under the ongoing documentation project, nearly 32,000 parliamentary questions from 407 sittings had already been compiled, with a long-term goal of preserving nearly five lakh legislative records.
Parvesh Sahib Singh emphasised the importance of authentic documents and facts, stating that when they are placed before the people, no one can distort history.
Singh also supported the proposal for establishing a dedicated museum within the Assembly complex to preserve and showcase this historic legacy for the people of Delhi and the country.