Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav extended greetings on Wednesday to Om Birla on his election as Speaker after a motion moved by the PM was adopted through voice votes. Pro-tem Speaker B Mahtab made the announcement after the opposition, which had proposed Congress MP Kodikunnil Suresh as its candidate, did not press for votes to the motion.
Soon after, PM Modi, LoP Rahul Gandhi and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju escorted Om Birla to Lok Sabha Chair.
PM mOn Om Birla's Election As LS Speaker
In a congratulatory address for Om Birla, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed confidence that the Lok Sabha will guide Parliamentarians and play a big role in the House fulfilling people's expectations.
PM Modi also said that the "conduct of members and their accountability increase faith of people in Parliamentary democracy."
Congratulating Om Birla on his fresh term on behalf of the entire House, the prime minister lauded the third-term MP for his conduct as Speaker in the previous Lok Sabha and also as a parliamentarian.
Modi said Birla presided over a golden era in Lok Sabha's history as a number of historic decisions were taken during its previous term. Noting that he is the first Speaker after Balram Jakhar, who was in the Chair between 1980 and 1989, to get another term after serving a full tenure, the prime minister expressed confidence that he will continue to create new bench marks.
Rahul Gandhi Hopes Oppn Gets 'Opportunity To Speak'
Congratulating Om Birla for being elected speaker of the Lok Sabha for a second term, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said he hoped the Opposition would be allowed to raise the voice of people in the House.
He also said the Opposition wanted the House to function "often and well" and added that it was very important that cooperation happens with trust.
"I'd like to congratulate you for your successful election... I congratulate you on behalf of the entire INDIA alliance. This House represents the voice of people of India... Of course the government has political power, but the opposition also represents the voice of India's people," the Congress leader said.
"The opposition would like to assist you in your work. I am confident you will allow us to speak in House," he said.
Pointing out that this time the opposition represents significantly more voices of the Indian people than last time, Gandhi stressed that it was very important that the voice of opposition is allowed to be represented in the House.
"I am confident that you will allow us to represent our voice, allow us to speak, to represent voice of people of India."
Hope Suspensions Won't Be Repeated: Akhilesh Yadav
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday congratulated Om Birla on being elected the Lok Sabha speaker and said he hoped that actions like suspension of MPs would not be taken as they hurt the dignity of the House.
Yadav said he also hoped that Birla would be impartial towards the opposition and give its leaders equal opportunity.
"We believe you will move forward without discrimination and as the Speaker, you will give equal opportunity and respect to every party. Impartiality is a great responsibility of this great post. You sitting here are the chief justice of the court of democracy," Yadav said.
"We expect that the voice of no public representative will be suppressed and actions like suspensions which hurt the dignity of the House will not be taken," he said.
