In a letter addressed to leaders of parties in the Lok Sabha, Birla expressed concern over the conduct of some members inside the House and within the Parliament complex, saying certain actions had affected the dignity and prestige of India’s parliamentary democracy.
File Photo: IANS
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Sunday called on leaders of all
political parties to ensure discipline and uphold the dignity of
Parliament, while also praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for what
he described as a steadfast commitment to parliamentary traditions and
democratic values.
In a letter addressed to leaders of parties in the Lok Sabha, Birla
expressed concern over the conduct of some members inside the House
and within the Parliament complex, saying certain actions had affected
the dignity and prestige of India’s parliamentary democracy. At the
same time, in a post on X, the Speaker highlighted a letter he had
received from Modi, commending the Prime Minister’s long-standing
faith in the rules and traditions of Parliament.
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He said that the Prime Minister’s message reflected the highest
ethical standards of public service and would inspire public
representatives across the country to rise above partisan divisions.
“You have always had unwavering faith in the rules, procedures and
traditions of India’s parliamentary democracy,” Birla wrote to Modi,
adding that the letter reflected values the Prime Minister had upheld
throughout his public life.
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He noted that Modi’s career in public service, from his tenure as
Chief Minister of Gujarat to his current role as Prime Minister, had
been marked by adherence to high standards of public responsibility
and democratic conduct. “Your letter reflects the highest ethical
values of public service that you have lived by throughout your long
public life—currently as the Prime Minister of India and earlier as
the Chief Minister of Gujarat,” Birla said.
Highlighting the central role of Parliament in India’s democratic
framework, the Speaker said the Prime Minister had consistently
emphasised the importance of dialogue and deliberation within the
legislature. “You have always held a deep belief in the fundamental
nature of Parliament—dialogue, debate and deliberation,” he wrote,
adding that Modi respects “every voice raised in Parliament as the
voice of millions of Indian citizens” and gives the highest priority
to parliamentary work.
Birla said the sentiments expressed in the Prime Minister’s message
would have a wider impact beyond Parliament by encouraging lawmakers
at all levels to uphold democratic ideals. “Your message will inspire
all public representatives in Parliament, state legislatures and local
bodies to rise above party lines,” he said, adding that it would
strengthen the moral foundations of democracy laid by freedom fighters
and members of the Constituent Assembly.
The Speaker made these remarks even as he urged party leaders to take
greater responsibility for maintaining decorum in Parliament amid
concerns about recent disruptions and conduct within the House.
In his letter to political parties, Birla emphasised that Parliament
represents the aspirations of the country’s citizens and must function
with dignity and discipline. “Parliament of India is the supreme
democratic institution representing the sovereign aspirations of 1.4
billion citizens of the country. Every voice expressed in Parliament
represents the hopes, aspirations and expectations of millions of
people,” he wrote.
Calling the Parliament complex a “sacred place,” Birla said it should
remain a forum for meaningful debate and dialogue that reflects
diverse views and perspectives. He added that members of Parliament
carry a special responsibility to uphold the prestige of democratic
institutions. “As members of the country’s highest democratic
institution, our responsibility to uphold the dignity and prestige of
all democratic institutions becomes even greater,” he said.
The Speaker said he was writing not merely as part of a formal
communication but out of a shared responsibility to safeguard the
values of parliamentary democracy. He noted that the dignity and
prestige of Parliament had been affected by the conduct of some
members both inside the House and elsewhere within the Parliament
premises.
“The display of banners, placards and boards inside the House and
within the Parliament premises, the kind of language being used, and
the manner of conduct and behaviour being witnessed are matters of
serious concern for all of us,” Birla wrote, adding that the situation
required “serious reflection and analysis” by all members, both
individually and collectively.
Recalling Parliament’s long-standing traditions of dignified debate,
Birla said whenever standards of conduct had declined in the past,
political parties and other stakeholders had come together to
deliberate on ways to preserve the dignity of democratic institutions.
He noted that the issue had also been discussed in conferences of
presiding officers, where resolutions were adopted to strengthen
decorum in legislative bodies.
He said he had repeatedly raised the matter during meetings of the
Business Advisory Committee and in discussions with leaders of
political parties, urging them to maintain high standards of conduct.
“Our conduct and behaviour are watched by the entire country, and
messages from the Parliament of India resonate across all democratic
institutions of the nation,” he said, stressing that lawmakers must
set an example for other institutions.
Calling for renewed efforts to preserve Parliament’s dignity, the
Speaker urged the leadership of all political parties to ensure
discipline among their members. “The time has now come for serious
reflection and introspection to ensure that the high dignity and
prestige of our democratic institutions are preserved,” he wrote.
Birla said party leaders must make special efforts to ensure
“discipline and high ethical standards of conduct and behaviour” among
members both inside the House and across the Parliament complex.
Expressing confidence that collective action would strengthen the
democratic system, the Speaker said cooperation among parties would
reinforce public faith in parliamentary institutions. “If we all work
together in this direction, the people’s faith in parliamentary
democracy will grow stronger and the dignity and prestige of the House
will continue to rise,” he wrote, thanking the Prime Minister for what
he described as inspiring words and reiterating his expectation that
all parties would uphold the “glorious traditions” of Parliament.
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