• Source:JND
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Parliament Session 2024: Congratulating Om Birla on his re-election as Speaker of the Lok Sabha for a second term, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi expressed hope that the Opposition would be allowed to raise the voice of people in the House. He stressed the importance of the House functioning "often and well" and highlighted the need for cooperation built on trust.

"I would like to congratulate you on the 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," Gandhi said while addressing Parliament.

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"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," he added.

"We are confident that by allowing the Opposition to speak, by allowing us to represent the people of India, you will do your duty of defending the Constitution of India. I'd like to once again congratulate you and also all the members of the House who have won their election" Gandhi concluded.

Other Opposition Leaders' Message To Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav also extended his congratulatory wishes to Birla and hoped that the Speaker would give equal opportunities and respect to every member and party.

"The post that you are occupying has glorious traditions attached to it. We believe that this will continue without any discrimination and as Lok Sabha Speaker you will give equal opportunities and respect to every member and party. Impartiality is a great responsibility of this great position...We expect that no public representative's voice will be stifled, nor will an action like expulsion take place again. Your control is on the Opposition but it should be on the ruling side too. The House should function on your signals and not the other way around. We stand with all your just decisions...I hope that you would respect Opposition as much as you respect the ruling dispensation and let them present their side..." Yadav said.

While congratulating Birla for his second term as Lok Sabha Speaker, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said it would be noted in history that there was a candidate against him. Meanwhile, TMC leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay and DMK leader T R Baalu also congratulated Om Birla and hoped he would be impartial towards the opposition.