‘Don’t Hurt Feelings & Sentiments Of Any Religion’: Lok Sabha Speaker To MPs

“But unnecessary aggression, shouting and interrupting each other should be avoided by the MPs in the Parliament,” Birla said.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. (File Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: Terming discussions and debates “ornament of a democracy”, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Sunday said the Members of Parliament should avoid making provocative statements about any religion and maintain the dignity and decorum of the House at all times. The parliamentarians should avoid unnecessary aggression and shouting while speaking in the Parliament, news agency Press Trust of India (PTI) reported Birla as saying. The Lok Sabha Speaker said “discussion and debate are crucial parts of a parliamentary democracy”, adding "sarcasm, taking digs at each other are also acceptable during debates".

“But unnecessary aggression, shouting and interrupting each other should be avoided by the MPs in the Parliament,” Birla said.

The Lok Sabha Speaker said the Parliament should not be used as a platform to make baseless allegations and counter-allegations by the political leaders.

Responding to a poser on heated debates among the politicians these days on religion, Birla underlined the Members of Parliament should refrain from making provocative statements against any religion as all religions are equal before the Constitution.

“While speaking on religious issues MPs should keep in mind that their statements do not hurt the feelings and sentiments of any other religion,” the news agency quoted Birla as saying.

“We all should diligently follow this practice and convention. Our Constitution gives everyone the right to practice their own religion,” he added.

Emphasizing the Parliament functions according to the Constitution, Birla said the “provocative remarks against any religion” should not be made in the House.

“Its dignity and decorum should be maintained all the time,” he added.

Birla, who completes three years in office on Sunday, expressed his gratitude to the leaders of all political parties for contributing towards making his journey successful so far.

Birla, who was unanimously elected as the Lok Sabha Speaker earlier on June 19, 2019, said it was a big achievement that the House’s average productivity during the period has been above 100 percent.

Birla, a second-term MP of the BJP from Rajasthan, added the House has functioned for nearly 1,000 hours across eight sessions so far in the 17th Lok Sabha.