Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service
Shimla, November 18
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday said there is a greater responsibility on the legislatures to rein in growing indiscipline on the floor of the House to ensure that there are qualitative and constructive debates.
He was delivering the valedictory address of the three-day All India Presiding Officers' conference being held here.
Birla said in the present changed scenario, it is imperative to ensure smooth conduct of the House so that the public in general benefits from the quality debates in the legislatures. He added that legislatures must deliberate on introducing Zero Hour so that public issues could be raised by elected representatives effectively.
Birla said it was the responsibility of the Speakers to ensure that every member of the House gets time to speak and raise important public issues.
Birla said efforts should be made for creating a single platform where the entire nation can see the proceedings of all the legislatures across the nation and get inspired and benefit from all such quality debates.
He said steps needed to be taken to ensure time-bound implementation of the recommendations of the parliamentary committees.
Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur said there should be quality debates based on research in legislatures rather than tearing and hurling papers on the floor of the House.
Thakur said Parliament and Assemblies needed to strengthen democracy by deliberating on quality changes and legislations to meet public expectations and new challenges.
Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar also spoke on the occasion.
Courtesy: Tribune News Service