Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha Congratulates Om Birla on Becoming Lok Sabha Speaker

Muzaffarpur (Bihar) [India], June 26: Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha congratulated Om Birla on his election as Lok Sabha Speaker. Sinha stated that those who have tried to weaken democracy and suppress the press should learn from this victory.

Speaking about the Emergency imposed in 1975, Sinha praised Birla’s statements and said, ‘The Emergency was an incident that bloodied the soul of democracy. This kind of mentality should learn a lesson and apologize.’

In his address, Birla condemned the Congress-led government’s decision to impose an Emergency in 1975. The Lok Sabha observed a two-minute silence for those who lost their lives during the period. Birla said, ‘This House strongly condemns the decision to impose Emergency in 1975. 25th June 1975 will always be known as a black chapter in the history of India.’

Birla added, ‘On this day, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi imposed an 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. Dictatorship was imposed on such an India by Indira Gandhi. The democratic values of India were crushed and freedom of expression was strangled.’

Despite Birla’s speech, opposition parties continued sloganeering ‘Stop Dictatorship.’ The Lok Sabha was adjourned till June 27. National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate and MP from Kota, Om Birla, was elected as the Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha after the motion was moved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and seconded by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The motion was adopted by the house through a voice vote.