New Delhi: The Congress has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla saying the “political references” on Emergency made by him during the proceedings of the House Wednesday were “deeply shocking” and “unprecedented in the annals of history of Parliament”.
Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal flagged the party’s objections in a letter to Birla, who returned to the post of Lok Sabha Speaker Wednesday after a motion appointing him, moved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was adopted by voice vote.
Venugopal, who has been elected to the Lok Sabha from Kerala’s Alappuzha, said the issue has a bearing on the “very credibility of the institution of Parliament”. Birla had read out a resolution condemning the imposition of Emergency by Indira Gandhi as prime minister in 1975.
“I am writing this in the context of a very grave matter impacting upon the very credibility of the institution of Parliament. Yesterday…at the time of offering felicitations on your election as Speaker Lok Sabha, there was a general camaraderie in the House as such occasions generate,” Venugopal wrote, adding: “However, what followed thereafter, which is reference from the Chair after your acceptance speech, in regard to declaration of Emergency half a century ago, is deeply shocking.”
He further wrote that the Congress, which won 99 seats in the general elections, considerably improving its performance compared to 2014 and 2019, considers Birla’s remarks to be a “travesty of Parliamentary traditions”.
“Making of such a political reference from the Chair is unprecedented in the annals of history of Parliament. This coming from the Chair as one of the ‘first duties’ from a newly elected Speaker assumes even graver proportions. I, on behalf of Indian National Congress, express our profound concern and anguish over this travesty of Parliamentary traditions,” Venugopal added.
The resolution, read out by Birla, stated that India was “subjected to dictatorship by Indira Gandhi”, leading to the country’s democratic values being “crushed and freedom of expression stifled”.
“This House strongly condemns the decision to impose Emergency in 1975. We appreciate the determination of all those people who opposed the Emergency, fought and fulfilled the responsibility of protecting India’s democracy. June 25, 1975 will always be known as a black chapter in the history of India,” Birla further said.
Modi, who had also condemned the Emergency in his remarks ahead of the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha, lauded Birla over his comments that angered the Opposition.
Sharing my remarks at the start of the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha. May it be a productive one.https://t.co/Ufz6XDa3hZ
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 24, 2024
“I am glad that the Honourable Speaker strongly condemned the Emergency, highlighted the excesses committed during that time and also mentioned the manner in which democracy was strangled. It was also a wonderful gesture to stand in silence in honour of all those who suffered during those days,” the PM wrote on X.
I am glad that the Honourable Speaker strongly condemned the Emergency, highlighted the excesses committed during that time and also mentioned the manner in which democracy was strangled. It was also a wonderful gesture to stand in silence in honour of all those who suffered…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 26, 2024
Even on Thursday, the Lok Sabha witnessed tense moments involving the Speaker and the Opposition. When Birla objected to Congress MP Shashi Tharoor raising the slogan ‘Jai Samvidhan’ after taking oath, party leader Deepender Singh Hooda retorted saying the Speaker should not have issues with the slogan.
“Don’t advise me on what is objectionable and what is not, sit down,” Birla responded.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra remarked on the incident in a post on X, saying: “Can’t ‘Jai Samvidhaan’ be chanted in Parliament? People in power were not stopped from raising unparliamentary and unconstitutional slogans, but objections were raised when an opposition MP chanted ‘Jai Samvidhaan’. The anti-constitution sentiment that emerged during the elections has now taken a new form, which seeks to weaken our Constitution.”
क्या भारत की संसद में 'जय संविधान' नहीं बोला जा सकता? संसद में सत्ता पक्ष के लोगों को असंसदीय और असंवैधानिक नारे लगाने से नहीं रोका गया, लेकिन विपक्षी सांसद के 'जय संविधान' बोलने पर आपत्ति जताई गई। चुनावों के दौरान सामने आया संविधान विरोध अब नये रूप में सामने है जो हमारे संविधान…
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) June 27, 2024
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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