NEW DELHI, Sept 19: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday urged parliamentarians to engage in
meaningful and positive debates while making laws and fulfil the dreams and aspirations of the people
of the country to make India a developed nation.
Addressing a function at the Central Hall of Parliament to commemorate the rich legacy of the
Parliament of India and dream of making India a developed nation by 2047, he said, “The people of the
country are looking towards us with new hopes as we move forward on this dream and we should help
realise their aspirations and fulfil their expectations.”
“There should be meaningful and positive discussions so that Parliament can play a significant role in
making our country more capable and prosperous and take it towards a developed nation,” the Speaker
said.
Birla said that in the 75 years of the glorious journey of parliamentary democracy, one has seen several
revolutionary changes. “But, today the people of the country are aspiring for a new India and people’s
hopes and aspirations from Parliament have grown,” he added.
“In such a situation, it is our responsibility to realise their hopes, expectations and aspirations. Today, as
we move to the new building, this is the occasion to reaffirm our commitment towards making the
country a developed nation,” Birla noted.
“It is our resolve that we will fulfil these aspirations through collective discussion in this parliamentary
democracy and through dialogue, hard work and with the participation of the entire country,” the
Speaker said.
He said as the world’s largest parliamentary democracy, “our responsibility has increased and that is
why it is important that our Parliament discusses all issues, makes laws through collective and
meaningful discussions and plays an important role in making the country more capable and prosperous
to fulfil the dream of a developed nation”.
Birla said the historic Central Hall has been witness to several significant and historic decisions relating
to freedom and framing of the Constitution.
This Parliament has been witness to several important decisions and has given shape to and
strengthened the country’s position in the world, he added.
The Speaker further said that in this central hall, “former presidents and several heads of state of the
world have addressed us while expressing faith in our democracy”.
“Today, from this hall, we enter the new Parliament building with new hopes, expectations and
aspirations. On this occasion, I pay homage to our freedom fighters who sacrificed their present for our
future,” he said.
The Speaker also paid homage to the framers of the Constitution for their invaluable contributions. (PTI)
