'We are confident you'll defend Constitution': Rahul Gandhi congratulates Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla
'We are confident you'll defend Constitution': Rahul Gandhi congratulates Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla
NEW DELHI: Congress MP from Rae Bareli Rahul Gandhi, who has been appointed as the Leader of the Opposition (LoP), congratulated NDA's Speaker pick Om Birla on assuming the highest post in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
Congratulating Birla for being elected as the Speaker of the Lower House, Rahul Gandhi said he hoped that the Opposition would be allowed to raise the voice of the people in the House.
The Congress scion said the Opposition wanted the House to function "often and well", adding that it was very crucial that cooperation is embedded in trust.
"I'd like to congratulate you for your successful election... I congratulate you on behalf of the entire INDIA alliance. This House represents the voice of people of India... Of course the government has political power, but the opposition also represents the voice of India's people," Rahul Gandhi said.
Rahul Gandhi said the idea that House proceedings can continue by silencing the opposition's voice is a non-democratic idea.
"The idea that you can run the House efficiently by silencing the voice of opposition is a non-democratic idea. This election has shown that the people of India expect the opposition to defend the Constitution of this country and we are confident that by allowing Opposition to speak, you will do your duty of defending the Constitution of India," the Congress MP said.
"The opposition would like to assist you in your work. I am confident you will allow us to speak in House," he added.
Highlighting the Opposition's increased strength in the House, compared to the previous two Lok Sabha terms, Gandhi said that it was important that the voice of the opposition is allowed to be represented in the House.
"I am confident that you will allow us to represent our voice, allow us to speak, to represent the voice of people of India," he was quoted as saying by the news agency PTI.
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