Disruptions cost Lok Saba 83 hours of work: Speaker Om Birla

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday expressed deep concern over the repeated disruptions that marred the monsoon session, saying that the House functioned for only 37 hours against the scheduled 120 hours.

Before adjourning the House sine die, Birla, in his valedictory remarks, said the country expected meaningful debates from its representatives, but “planned disruptions” and “sloganeering” prevented the House from functioning smoothly.

Addressing the members, Birla said, “As public representatives, our conduct and functioning are closely watched by the entire nation. The public holds great expectations for serious and meaningful discussions conducted in accordance with parliamentary decorum. The members must maintain restraint in both language and behaviour.”

Throughout the session, the Opposition vociferously protested against the government, initially demanding a discussion on Operation Sindoor and later over the Election Commission’s special intensive revision (SIR) voter exercise in Bihar. Birla told MPs that while differences of opinion were natural in a democracy, the collective responsibility should be to ensure that the House functioned with “dignity, decorum and decency. “We have to think about what message we are sending to the citizens through the country’s highest democratic institution,” he said.

The monsoon session, which began on July 21, saw the introduction of 14 Bills and the passage of 12, including key legislations. Two special discussions were also held -- one on Operation Sindoor from July 28-29 and another on the achievements of India’s space programme on August 18.

Despite this, Birla noted that disruptions severely hampered legislative business. Of the 419 starred questions listed for oral replies, only 55 could be taken up due to the persistent impasse, the Speaker added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh were also present in the House during the concluding proceedings. The Opposition, however, continued to raise slogans “vote chor gaddi chhod” during entire eight-minute-long Birla’s address.