LS Speaker Om Birla condemns 1975 Emergency, calls it 'black chapter' in India's history

26 Jun 2024 Evaluate

Lok Sabha (LS) Speaker Om Birla today condemned the decision to impose the Emergency in 1975 and observed a two-minute silence in memory of those who died during that time, triggering sloganeering and protests from the Opposition.

LS 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 further 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.’

Birla's reference to the Emergency, which happened shortly after he re-elected as the Speaker of the Lower House, which led to the uproar from the Opposition, followed by adjournment of the House for the day. The lower house will meet again wat 11am Thursday. While addressing the house, Birla also 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). 

Om Birla won the election by a voice vote against opposition INDIA alliance candidate K Suresh. PM Modi and LoP Rahul Gandhi accompanied Birla as he took the chair of the Speaker. PM Modi said in his address that Birla’s first term as Speaker saw the Lok Sabha pass landmark legislations, like the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, to pave the way for women’s reservation in the House – something that is planned for the third term of the Modi government.


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