Planned deadlock not good for country, states: LS Speaker

Terming agreement or disagreement as the strength of democracy, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla today asserted that “planned deadlock” in legislative work was not appropriate for the country or the states.

"Mera manna hai Vidhan Sabhaon ke andar ho chahe Sansad ke andar, niyojit gatirodh loktantar ke liye uchit nahi hai (I believe that be it in Vidhan Sabhas or Parliament, a planned deadlock/standoff is not appropriate for democracy)," Birla told reporters on the sidelines of the two-day orientation programme for the members of the Haryana Legislative Assembly, which started here today.

He said deadlocks also disrupted the House and legislative business, besides wasting precious time.

He said since the responsibility of enacting new laws lay with both the state Assemblies and Parliament, training legislators, especially new ones, was important to ensure they had a thorough understanding of legislative procedures. This, he said, would facilitate more informed discussions and dialogues on Bills introduced in the Assemblies, ultimately benefiting the public. He said democracy was strengthened through proficiency in legislative work.

The programme for the members of the 15th Legislative Assembly of Haryana, of which 40 are first-timers, is being organised by the Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE), Lok Sabha Secretariat in collaboration with the Haryana Legislative Assembly Secretariat.

Earlier, inaugurating the programme, Birla referred to all public-elected institutions as mini-assemblies, while underlining the importance of extensive discussions on public welfare in institutions such as gram panchayats, gram sabhas, nagar palikas, zila parishads, and panchayat samitis.

He said positive suggestions for legislative work should also be taken through gram sabhas. The more serious and participatory the discussions were, the more they would help in controlling the executive, improving governance, and curbing corruption.

Birla said state legislatures should conduct comprehensive reviews of policies and schemes. He said there should be an in-depth study of state issues.

During the programme, experts would provide insights into legislative procedures, helping members enhance their understanding and efficiency. This would further strengthen public trust and confidence in their elected representatives.

Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said legislature was one of the important pillars of democracy and all members must work hard to make it stronger. He said the role of elected representatives was not just to make laws but also to raise the voices of their constituents and work towards solving their problems effectively.

Once inside the Assembly, members should prioritise the dignity, smooth functioning, and prestige of the House, he said, adding that, "we are, first and foremost, members of this esteemed Assembly, and then, belong to different political parties".

When the 15th Haryana Vidhan Sabha was formed, the government resolved to rise above politics and focus on meaningful debates, discussions, and addressing public concerns, he said.

Speaker Harvinder Kalyan said after being elected as a public representative, the role of a politician changed, so all public representatives should rise above their ideology and discharge their duties with the aim of nation-building, progress of the state and public welfare.

Uttar Pradesh Assembly Speaker Satish Mahana, Punjab Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan and Congress MLA BB Batra were prominent among those who addressed the programme.