28th CSPOC conference postponed indefinitely; Pathania stresses need for social media monitoring to ensure accurate information

Shimla : The 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC), scheduled to be held under the aegis of the Indian Parliament at Parliament House, New Delhi, from January 14 to 16, 2026, has been postponed indefinitely. The conference was inaugurated a day earlier by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who also delivered the keynote address.

The event saw participation from around 61 national Speakers from 67 Commonwealth countries, along with Speakers and Presiding Officers from 28 Indian states who were specially invited. Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania was also present and actively participated in the sessions, sharing observations on the issues discussed.

Before the start of deliberations on themes three and four during the workshop sessions, Lok Sabha Speaker and CSPOC Chairperson Om Birla delivered the inaugural address at 10 am. The special address was given by Dr Christopher Kalila, Chairperson of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. The workshop was also addressed by the Speaker of the National Assembly of Guyana and the Speaker of the House of Commons, Canada, Francis Scarpaleggia.

Speaking to Sansad TV during the conference, Pathania said the CSPOC conference organised by the Indian Parliament was significant on many counts. He said that at a time when governments in several countries are becoming unstable, governance systems are under threat and state machinery is being used against citizens, India’s democratic system has grown stronger over the past 78 years. He said this sends a powerful message to the world.

Pathania said India, with a population of 1.46 billion and multiple languages, continues to reflect unity in diversity, which forms the foundation of its strong democracy and robust governance system. He added that India has preserved and strengthened democratic values and has continuously worked to ensure justice and rights for citizens through democratic institutions, making such conferences all the more relevant.

He said the conference witnessed in-depth discussions on social media and emerging innovations such as artificial intelligence, which play a crucial role in democratic systems by disseminating information to the masses. He said it was essential that discussions held inside legislatures reach the public so that citizens are aware of debates, policies and laws being framed, and can assess whether they truly serve public interest.

Pathania stressed that it is imperative for social media, print, electronic and digital media to convey accurate information so that a genuine dialogue between elected representatives and the public is maintained. He said a proper monitoring mechanism for social media is necessary to ensure the dissemination of correct information.

He further said that Himachal Pradesh has been among the leading states in implementing the e-Vidhan system and has also adopted the National e-Vidhan platform, enabling legislative proceedings to reach people effectively. Vidhan Sabha Secretary Yashpal Sharma was also present on the occasion.