Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], September 11 (ANI): Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday inaugurated the 11th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) India Region Conference at the historic steps of Vidhana Soudha, Bengaluru. The three-day conference is being held under the theme, “Debates and Discussions in the Houses of Legislature, building people’s trust, meeting people’s aspirations.”
In his inaugural address, Birla emphasised that meaningful dialogue and healthy debates in Parliament and State Legislatures strengthen public faith in democracy. “Dialogue has been an intrinsic part of India’s democratic culture for thousands of years and was further strengthened by the Constitution of India,” he said. Referring to the Constituent Assembly debates, Birla recalled how every word and article was deliberated upon in detail, making the Constitution inclusive and visionary. He urged lawmakers to revive the spirit of healthy debate seen during the Constituent Assembly. “India is the world’s largest democracy and its Constitution is the most vibrant, uniting the nation despite its vast diversity and difficult times,” he added.
The Speaker stressed that elected representatives must maintain dignity and decorum in the House. He warned that disruptions, stalemates, and repeated adjournments hurt democracy and erode public trust. Differences of opinion are natural, but the House must not be held to a standstill. According to Birla, solutions emerge through discussion and dialogue.
Expressing concern over the declining number of sittings in legislatures, limited time for debate, and frequent disruptions, Birla called for strengthening India’s culture of debate. “The people of India do not expect noise; they expect solutions. Constructive debate leads to better laws, better laws ensure effective governance, and effective governance strengthens people’s trust,” he said.
Highlighting the role of technology and innovation in deepening democracy, Birla cited initiatives such as the Digital Parliament App, National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA), and Sanskrit Bhasini, which have made legislative processes more accessible in India’s multilingual society. He noted that proceedings of the Indian Parliament are now available in Hindi, English, and 22 Indian languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, and Assamese, thereby promoting inclusivity.
The CPA is an international platform comprising nearly 180 Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures. Om Birla serves as the ex officio Chairperson of the CPA India Region Executive Committee. India constitutes the 9th Region of the CPA, with 31 State and Union Territory branches.
The inauguration saw addresses from Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Chairman of Karnataka Legislative Council, Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha Harivansh, and Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shiv Kumar. (ANI)
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