New Delhi : Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla today inaugurated the 11th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) India Region Conference at the historic steps of the Vidhana Soudha, Bengaluru. The three-day conference is being hosted under the theme “Debates and Discussions in the Houses of Legislature, building people’s trust, meeting people’s aspirations”.
In his inaugural address, Shri Birla underlined that meaningful dialogue and healthy debates in Parliament and State Legislatures strengthen people’s faith in democracy. He said that dialogue has been an intrinsic part of India’s democratic culture for thousands of years and was further strengthened by the Constitution of India. Referring to the Constituent Assembly debates, Shri Birla recalled how every word and article was deliberated upon in detail, which made the Constitution inclusive and visionary. He urged the lawmakers to revive the spirit of healthy debate in the Constituent Assembly. He noted that India is the world’s largest democracy, and its Constitution is the most vibrant one, uniting the nation despite its vast diversity and difficult times.
The Speaker urged all elected representatives to maintain dignity and decorum in the House. He cautioned that disruptions, stalemates, and repeated adjournments only hurt democracy and erode public trust. “Differences of opinion are natural, but the House must not be held to a standstill. It is through discussion and dialogue that solutions emerge,” he emphasized.
Expressing concern over the declining number of sittings in legislatures, limited time for debate, and frequent disruptions, Shri Birla stressed the need to strengthen India’s culture of debate. He remarked, “The people of India do not expect noise; they expect solutions. Constructive debate leads to better laws, better laws ensure effective governance, and effective governance strengthens people’s trust.”