Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla invoked the ‘1975 Emergency’ in the Lower House on Wednesday after the NDA candidate won the election by a voice vote against opposition INDIA alliance pick K Suresh.
While addressing the House, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said, “This House strongly condemns the decision to impose Emergency in 1975. Along with this, we appreciate the determination of all those people who opposed the Emergency, fought and fulfilled the responsibility of protecting the democracy of India. 25th June 1975 will always be known as a black chapter in the history of India.”
He added, “On this day, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi imposed Emergency in the country and attacked the Constitution made by Baba Saheb Ambedkar. India is known all over the world as the mother of democracy. Democratic values and debate have always been supported in India. Democratic values have always been protected, they have always been encouraged. Dictatorship was imposed on such an India by Indira Gandhi. The democratic values of India were crushed and freedom of expression was strangled…”
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Thereafter, he asked the members to rise for two minutes’ silence to mark the 50th anniversary of the “dark days of Emergency”. This sparked an uproar from the Opposition benches and the House was adjourned.
While addressing the House, Birla also said that all members must work together for the nation. Appealing to the members to ensure decorum in the House, he said there must remain a difference between protest in the sansad (House) and protest on sadak (street).
The election of Om Birla saw a moment of bonhomie between the treasury and Opposition benches as Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi walked up to Om Birla to congratulate him and also shook hands with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
As the House applauded Birla on his election, the Prime Minister said his “sweet smile keeps the entire House happy”. “It is a matter of honour that you have been elected to this chair for the second time,” PM Modi said.
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Opposition leaders also congratulated the Speaker, but added a sharp message that the Opposition must be allowed to speak, as they too represent the voice of the people.
This was only the third election for the Lok Sabha Speaker after Independence. The voting took place after the Congress forced a contest and fielded its eight-time MP K Suresh as a challenger. The numbers, however, were clearly on Om Birla’s side. While the NDA candidate had the support of over 300 MPs, the Opposition pick had 232.
