Om Birla Urges 1-Min Silence For Emergency Victims Who 'Died Due To Congress's Dictatorship', Clip Viral

Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked Om Birla for condemning the Emergency imposed by the then Indira Gandhi-government in June 1975.

Om Birla was re-elected as Lok Sabha Speaker today.

Shortly after he was elected as the Speaker of Lok Sabha, Om Birla on Wednesday condemned the "dark days of Emergency" and called for a minute of silence after his speech. 

Birla's reference to the Emergency, imposed by the then Indira Gandhi government in June 1975, saw a face-off between the government and the opposition in the first session of the lower house.

"This House strongly condemns the decision to impose Emergency in 1975. We appreciate the determination of all those people who opposed the Emergency, fought and fulfilled the responsibility of protecting India's democracy," Birla said amid vociferous protests by opposition parties. 

Watch: 18th Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla calls for a minute of silence after his speech, mentioning the Emergency pic.twitter.com/Dtqd05xEMY

— IANS (@ians_india) June 26, 2024

Opposition MPs, including from the Congress, were on their feet, raising slogans against the reference to the Emergency.

"June 25, 1975 will always be known as a black chapter in the history of India. On this day, then prime minister Indira Gandhi imposed Emergency in the country and attacked the Constitution made by Babasaheb Ambedkar," Birla said.

"Birla said India was 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. Indira Gandhi imposed dictatorship on such an India. The democratic values ​​of India were crushed and freedom of expression was strangled," Birla said.

"He said the rights of Indian citizens were crushed and their freedom snatched away.Those were the times when opposition leaders were jailed, the entire nation was turned into a prison. The then dictatorial government had put several restrictions on the media and there was restraint on the autonomy of judiciary," Birla said.

The speaker urged members to observe silence for a while and later adjourned the proceedings for the day.

Soon after the House was adjourned for the day, BJP members staged protests by waving placards and raising slogans outside Parliament.

PM Modi Thanks Om Birla

Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked Om Birla for condemning the Emergency imposed by the then Indira Gandhi-government in June 1975.

“I am glad that the Honourable Speaker strongly condemned the Emergency, highlighted the excesses committed during that time, and also mentioned the manner in which democracy was strangled,” PM Modi said in a X post.

I am glad that the Honourable Speaker strongly condemned the Emergency, highlighted the excesses committed during that time and also mentioned the manner in which democracy was strangled. It was also a wonderful gesture to stand in silence in honour of all those who suffered…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 26, 2024

After assuming the chair of the Speaker, Om Birla said, "I express my gratitude to all of you for giving me an opportunity to fulfill my duties as the Speaker of the House. I am indebted to the prime minister and leaders of all the parties and members of Parliament for expressing trust on me."