Speaker Om Birla: Dignity of assemblies declining, cause of concern

Lucknow: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Friday said that dignity of the Legislative Assemblies is declining due to regular disruptions which is a matter of concern and it is the responsibility of the elected representatives to maintain it. Addressing the newly elected MLAs of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly after inaugurating orientation program and, Birla said. “The dignity of the Legislative Assemblies is declining due to ruckus, sloganeering and display of placards and during the conference of Presiding Officers concerns were expressed on it.” He said, “As the elected representatives it is our responsibility to maintain dignity. The dignity is maintained through the behaviour of an elected representative. I will request that to maintain the dignity of the house there should be high quality debates and interaction (during house proceedings). We should raise the issues and problems of the people with logic.” The Speaker said that these Assemblies have produced exemplary leaders, who put their view with logic. “The Lok Sabha and the Legislative Assemblies are centers of producing exemplary leaders in the country,” he said. He also expressed concern over declining attendance of the elected representatives in the house. “It is a matter of concern that attendance of the MLAs is declining in the Legislative Assembly. It’s a new experience and people have elected us to participate in the proceedings of the house. In UP, which is the largest Assembly in the world, efforts should be made to make it a center of discussion and interaction which can guide the other Legislative Assemblies in the country and the world,” he said. Birla said that another area of concern is that there has been a decline in the amount of discussion and interaction should be held while framing a law. “The basic work of the Legislative Assembly and the Parliament is also to frame laws. UP Assembly has a glorious past in framing important laws, which brought extensive socio-economic changes, helped people in getting justice with the help of law and made their lives simple,” he said. He said, “There should be extensive discussion while framing and law and inputs should be taken from the public before framing it. The better the discussion it will help to guide the government so that the law, which is actually being framed for the welfare of the people, actually benefits them.” The Speaker said that the first time MLAs should take experience of old debates of the house. “The more they study they will be able to put their issue in a better manner,” he said. Chief Minister and Leader of the House Yogi Adityanath and Leader of the Opposition Akhilesh Yadav also addressed the programme. Assembly Speaker Satish Mahana welcomed Birla and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna proposed a vote of thanks. (UNI)