Lok Sabha news Highlights: Opposition to contest in deputy speaker's election

Lok Sabha news LIVE: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Wednesday expressed confidence that the Lok Sabha will function smoothly under the chairmanship of Om Birla who was re-elected as Speaker of the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

"Om Birla has been re-elected as Lok Sabha Speaker. I congratulate him. During his last tenure as the Speaker, the House proceedings went smoothly. I am confident that in his chairmanship the Lok Sabha will function well," CM Sai told reporters in Raipur.

Lok Sabha news LIVE: On Om Birla being nominated as Speaker of the Lok Sabha by NDA, BJD MP Muzibullah Khan says, "... We were expecting pro-tem speaker Bhartruhari Mahtab to be nominated as the Speaker. He is a very experienced leader. NDA has been unjust with Odisha who has given 20 MPs to the BJP. We were hoping for at least 4 ministries and speaker post for Odisha MPs... Dharmendra Pradhan and Jual Oram have got ministries but still, we hoped for more... We will raise the issues of Odisha in the Parliament and prove to be a good opposition. Our leader Naveen Patnaik has given us a freehold..."

Lok Sabha news LIVE: Taking a swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the BJP on Wednesday claimed that members of the key constituents of the opposition INDIA bloc did not join his party’s protest in the Lok Sabha against a resolution brought by Speaker Om Birla on the imposition of Emergency by the Indira Gandhi government in 1975.

Lok Sabha news LIVE: Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday described Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla as the "chief justice" of democratic justice, saying the House should function on his directions and not otherwise.

Congratulating Birla on being re-elected Speaker of Lok Sabha, Yadav said in the House that all members believe that as the presiding officer, he will give equal opportunities and respect to every party.

"Impartiality is the great responsibility of the high office," he said.

Lok Sabha news LIVE: On Om Birla elected as Lok Sabha Speaker, Bihar deputy chief minister Vijay Kumar Sinha says, "I congratulate (him). India is the land of democracy and democracy has won. Those who have tried to weaken democracy, those who have violated fundamental rights, those who have suppressed the voice of the press, and those who have curtailed the powers of the court, should learn a lesson from today's victory..."

Lok Sabha news LIVE: "BJP's aims to weaken and eliminate all regional parties with 'Operation Lotus'," says SAD Delhi chief.

Lok Sabha news LIVE: BJP MPs, including Union ministers, held a protest in the Parliament Complex on Wednesday, targeting the Congress over the imposition of Emergency in 1975 and demanding the opposition party's apology for violating the Constitution.

Lok Sabha news LIVE: The Speaker has recognised Congress MP Rahul Gandhi as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, effective from June 9.

Lok Sabha news LIVE: Union minister Giriraj Singh said, "Those who claim to protect the Constitution should remember that it was never as severely undermined as it was during the Emergency. The youth need to know about that period."

Lok Sabha news LIVE: Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Dimple Yadav said, "We should focus on the present state of the country. Do our youth have jobs? Has inflation decreased? It would be more beneficial to discuss ways to improve the future."

Lok Sabha Speaker Election LIVE: Congress MP Jairam Ramesh commented on the election of the Lok Sabha Speaker, saying, "We didn't ask for a division of votes. We felt it was appropriate to foster a consensus on the first day, creating an atmosphere of unity. This was a constructive step from our side. We could have asked for a division (of votes), but we chose not to."

Lok Sabha Speaker Election LIVE: "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 during those days.

The Emergency was imposed 50 years ago but it is important for today's youth to know about it because it remains a fitting example of what happens when the Constitution is trampled over, public opinion is stifled and institutions are destroyed. The happenings during the Emergency exemplified what a dictatorship looks like," said PM Narendra Modi.

"NDA did not have the numbers, and at least eight members asked them for a division... its video has emerged... but they finished with ayes! It is clear that the democracy is being strangled," says TMC MP Kirti Azad.

West Bengal Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee, on Om Birla being elected speaker, said, “Speaker may allow division or may not allow division. Since the majority appears to be in favour of the candidate who has been nominated by BJP, he should have allowed division (voting) in this case; he has not allowed. In Vidhan Sabha also, the rule prescribes that if anybody demands division (voting), then there should be division (voting).”

Congress MP Pramod Tiwari, speaking on BJP MP Om Birla elected as the Speaker of Lok Sabha, said, "...As far as the election is concerned, when the Parliamentary traditions were disregarded, we registered our protest in a democratic manner - that the Deputy Speaker should be from Opposition. They didn't do it...As far as division (of votes) is concerned, why did the ruling side and its allies not demand it?..."

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla says "This House strongly condemns the decision to impose Emergency in 1975. Along with this, we appreciate the determination of all those people who opposed the Emergency, fought and fulfilled the responsibility of protecting the democracy of India. 25th June 1975 will always be known as a black chapter in the history of India. On this day, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi imposed 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. Democratic values ​​have always been protected, they have always been encouraged. Dictatorship was imposed on such an India by Indira Gandhi. The democratic values ​​of India were crushed and freedom of expression was strangled..."

He also lauded a successful conduct of elections. He said, "This 18th Lok Sabha is the world's largest celebration of democracy. Despite other challenges, more than 64 crore voters participated in the elections with great enthusiasm. On behalf of the House, I express my gratitude to them and the people of the country. I thank the Election Commission for conducting the election process in a fair, unbiased and transparent manner and for the efforts made by them to ensure that even a single vote is cast in remote areas. The NDA government has been formed for the third consecutive term under the leadership of PM Modi. In the last decade, the expectations, hopes and aspirations of the people have increased. Therefore, it becomes our responsibility to make collective efforts to fulfil their expectations and aspirations in an effective manner..."

“I hope you run the house and not the other way around,” SP chief Akhilesh Yadav congratulates Om Birla.

‘Opposition would like to assist you in doing your work’, says Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi congratulates Om Birla.

"I would like to congratulate you for your successful election that you have been elected for the second time. I would like to congratulate you on behalf of the entire Opposition and the INDIA alliance. This House represents the voice of India's people and you are the final arbiter of that voice. The government has political power but the opposition also represents the voice of India's people and this time, the opposition represents significantly more voice of the Indian people than it did last time. The opposition would like to assist you in doing your work. We would like the House to function often and well. It is very important that cooperation happens on the basis of trust. It is very important that the voice of the Opposition is allowed to be represented in this House,"

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Om Birla on being elected the Lok Sabha speaker on Wednesday. He lauded Birla's efforts to build the Kota constituency and the historic decisions taken in his presence as the leader.

PM Modi also expressed confidence that Om Birla will guide the parliamentarians and play a big role in the House fulfilling people's expectations.