Legislatures Are Training Grounds for Political Leadership, Says Speaker Birla
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday stated that legislatures serve as a training ground for political leadership, urging members to learn from the issues raised in the House and uphold parliamentary traditions through meaningful debate and constructive participation.
Speaking at the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly's 75th foundation year celebrations, Mr. Birla emphasised that leaders are not made by creating disruptions but through reasoned arguments and informed discussions. He credited the Rajasthan Assembly with shaping his legislative values, saying, "The speeches and debates held in legislatures become part of history and are studied for years. The more a member listens and studies, the better the member will be able to contribute."
Mr. Birla highlighted that legislatures enable governments to understand the aspirations, challenges, and problems faced by people across the state through democratic discussion. He said, "If the government studies the issues raised in the House seriously, it can reach the root of the problems and work towards effective solutions." He urged ministers to provide precise replies to questions and stressed the importance of transparency and accountability for a healthy democracy.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma said public service and commitment to democratic values are the guiding principles of the state government. He noted the assembly's role in the state's development through landmark legislation and its emergence as a leading legislative institution through innovation. "Every generation learns from the functioning of the Assembly, and we should have debates and ideas that contribute to Rajasthan's progress and are remembered by future generations," he said.
Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully expressed concern that the role of legislators in law-making had weakened, with many Bills passed amid disruptions without adequate discussion. He called for sufficient opportunity for all legislators to participate and urged increasing the number of Assembly sittings. "When the assembly completes 100 years, it should rank first in terms of the number of sittings and meaningful deliberations," he said.
Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani described democracy as a continuous flow of ideas, saying such programmes help legislators rise above partisan politics and focus on the state's development. The 75th-year celebrations, he said, aimed to strengthen democratic traditions, encourage dialogue, and foster a collective commitment towards Rajasthan's progress.
