Congress MP KC Venugopal Criticizes Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla’s Emergency Remarks

New Delhi [India], June 27: Congress MP KC Venugopal wrote a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla regarding his statement in Parliament about the Emergency imposed in June 1975. Venugopal called it a grave matter affecting Parliament’s credibility.

He wrote, “I am writing this in the context of a very grave matter impacting upon the very credibility of the institution of Parliament. Yesterday that is 26 June 2024, at the time of offering felicitations on your election as Speaker Lok Sabha, there was a general camaraderie in the House as such occasions generate.”

Venugopal found the Speaker’s emergency remark “shocking” and “unprecedented in the annals of the history of Parliament.” He added, “This coming from the Chair as one of the ‘first duties’ from a newly elected Speaker assumes even graver proportions.”

He concluded the letter by expressing the Indian National Congress’s profound concern and anguish over this breach of Parliamentary traditions.

Speaking to reporters, Venugopal said, “Political statements from the Speaker’s mouth could have been avoided. This kind of political message will not give a message of cooperation.”

Earlier, the Lok Sabha adopted a resolution condemning the Emergency imposed by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Speaker Om Birla read out the resolution, marking June 25, 1975, as a black chapter in India’s history. He praised those who opposed the Emergency and protected India’s democracy.