Om Birla

Manish Tewari writes to Om Birla over forest bill sent to joint panel

Congress MP Manish Tewari wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday over the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023, being sent to a joint committee and demanded that it be examined by the standing committee. Tewari's letter to Birla comes a day after senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh lodged a protest with Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar over the bill being sent to a joint committee and demanded that it be examined by the standing committee, headed by Ramesh. Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav introduced the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023, in Lok Sabha on Wednesday. The Bill was then sent to a joint committee of both the Houses for discussion. The Bill seeks to bring clarity to the country's forest conservation law and exempt certain categories of land from its purview to fast-track strategic and security-related projects of national importance. In his letter to Birla, Tewari raised the issue of the "unusual manner" in which the Forest (Conservation

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Oppn likely to bring no-confidence motion against LS Speaker next week

Congress and other Opposition parties are contemplating moving a no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla next week on the ground that opposition members are not being allowed to speak

Women at centre of country's development vision: Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Saturday highlighted the increasing role of women in elected bodies while noting that 115 of them are currently Members of Parliament as against only 15 women in the Constituent Assembly which had a strength of 389 at the time of Independence. Addressing female students at Daulat Ram College here, Birla said women are now playing a leading role in different sectors and added that over 14 lakhs of them are members of elected bodies across the country, leading its social and economic transformation, according to a statement from his office. The country is now moving forward with the vision of women-centric development, he said, asserting that only education can ensure their social independence. From flying fighter planes to deployment at borders and in para-military forces, women are on the frontline of every field, Birla said. They are triggering a massive social change by running self-help groups in huge numbers, the Lok Sabha speaker said. It is often s

Lok Sabha adjourned for day due to protests over Rahul's remarks in UK

Lok Sabha proceedings were again adjourned for the day on Friday due to slogan shouting by the opposition and protests by the ruling party members over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's "democracy-under-attack" remarks made in London recently. This was for the fifth consecutive day that the House did not function ever since the second half of the budget session began on March 13. As soon as the Lok Sabha assembled for the day, some Congress members trooped to the Well of the House shouting slogans and demanded that Gandhi be allowed to speak in the House. They also demanded a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into alleged stock manipulation by the Adani Group, a business conglomerate headed by industrialist Gautam Adani. The members of the treasury benches also raised counter-slogans from their seats, demanding an apology from Gandhi for his remarks. The turmoil continued for about 20 minutes, with Speaker Om Birla urging the members to allow the House to function ...

Only BJP members allowed to speak in Parliament, says TMC MP Mahua Moitra

In a tweet on Thursday, TMC MP Mahua Moitra said that Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla was allowing 'only BJP' ministers to speak in the parliament

Lok Sabha adjourned till 2 PM amid uproar over Rahul's democracy remarks

Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 2 pm on Tuesday amid uproar over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's democracy remarks. As the Lok Sabha met for the day, Speaker Om Birla urged members to let the House function and took up the Question Hour. Asking the Congress members, who were on their feet, to maintain the decorum of the House and not show placards, Birla said they should let the House function. However, Congress members continued their protest following which the speaker adjourned the House till 2 pm. Gandhi had recently alleged in London that the structures of Indian democracy are under brutal attack and there is a full-scale assault on the institutions of the country. Demanding an apology from Gandhi for his remarks, the ruling BJP charged that the Congress leader has tried to defame India. Lok Sabha proceedings were disrupted on Monday as well as the BJP-Congress slugfest escalated over Gandhi's remark with the Government seeking an apology while the opposition benche

United Nations Security Council needs urgent reforms: Om Birla in Bahrain

He said that there is a wide agreement among the countries of the world too that important matters have to be taken seriously and honestly

India making significant contribution to global peace: LS Speaker Om Birla

He emphasized that modernization of defence capabilities is needed to tackle challenges like cyber warfare, drugs, weapons, and money laundering through innovation

Youth endowed with potential can give new direction to society: Om Birla

"The country's education policy is not only developing the intellectual potential of the youth but also showing the path of their multi-dimensional progress," he said

Unparliamentary conduct erode people's faith in democracy: LS Speaker Birla

Unparliamentary behaviour and the use of undesirable words in political discourse erode people's faith in both democracy and democratic institutions, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said on Friday. Birla said Parliament is for discussion and debate, not disruption, and lawmakers should be mindful of the fact that people are watching them". Suggesting politicians to maintain "restrain and dignity" in their behaviour both inside and outside Parliament, Birla said the entire country looks up to public representatives for their conduct. He was speaking at the valedictory session of the 19th Zone III Conference of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) India Region here. Responding to a question on remarks made by Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Birla said "undesirable" words in political discourse "erode people's faith" in democracy and democratic institutions. "Incidents of unparliamentary behaviour and the use of undesirable words in politica

LS Speaker Om Birla expresses concern about cyberbullying, drug abuse

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla urged for collective efforts to tackle the problem of cyberbullying and drug abuse

Information technology should be used to improve governance: Om Birla

Birla made remarks after inaugurating the two-day 19th annual conference of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) India region zone-III at Sikkim Legislative Assembly in Gangtok

'New tradition' of allegations, counter-allegations in Parliament: Om Birla

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday said a "new tradition" of levelling allegations and counter-allegations being observed in Parliament and state Assemblies these days is not proper for the country's constitutional democracy, and stressed the need for constructive debate and discussion in Houses to make democracy "lively and active". Inaugurating a two-day orientation programme for elected members of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly here, he also said that while criticism is a "shuddhi yagna" (purification ritual) in democracy, disrupting the Houses "in a planned manner" and causing disruption in speeches of governors are "not a good tradition". "Wherever required, one should criticise the government's policies, provide constructive suggestions. In democracy, criticism is a 'shuddhi yagna'. But the new tradition of aarop-pratyarop (allegations and counter-allegations) rather than criticism seen these days in these institutions is not proper for the constitutional democracy of th

India will always be reliable: Om Birla to Bhutan National Assembly speaker

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday said India would always be a reliable friend to Bhutan while noting the Rs 2,400-crore allocation for the neighbouring country in this year's Union Budget during a meeting with a Bhutanese Parliamentary delegation. The Bhutanese delegation, led by National Assembly Speaker Wangchuk Namgyal, also called on Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar in Parliament. The largest share of India's aid portfolio has been granted towards Bhutan with an allocation of Rs 2,400 crore -- constituting 41.04 per cent of the Ministry of External Affairs' development assistance -- in line with the country's 'Neighbourhood First' policy, Birla said the 'Neighborhood First' policy, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given a new direction to India-Bhutan relations. The Government of India has allocated Rs 2,400 crore from this year's Union Budget to Bhutan, Birla said, and added that it reflected the close ties between the tw

Man with profound knowledge: Om Birla condoles Shanti Bhushan's demise

'Saddened to know about the demise of former Union Minister and eminent lawyer with profound knowledge on constitutional matters Shri Shanti Bhusan Ji'

Farmers are backbone of Indian economy: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla

India will become self-reliant only when farmers adopt innovations, new techniques and trends in agriculture to ensure maximum production from minimum land and investment, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said on Tuesday. Birla, along with Union Minister of State for Agriculture Kailash Choudhary, inaugurated a two-day agriculture fair and exhibition at the Dusshera Ground in Kota. The Lok Sabha speaker said farmers are the backbone of India's economy and brought in the green revolution to make the country the highest producer of wheat in the world. The focus should now be laid on the white revolution in the form of milk production and animal husbandry, aided by modern innovations and techniques, he said. "It is the power of farmers (annadata) that they did not allow any shortage of wheat during the coronavirus pandemic when production had dropped in every sector," he said. During the pandemic, the Narendra Modi government distributed free wheat to 80 crore people and it was possible ..

Judiciary expected to follow principle of separation of powers: Om Birla

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday said judiciary is expected to follow the principle of separation of powers as defined in the Constitution

LS Speaker urges Kota students to study without stress, reach out to him

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has urged students coming to Rajasthan's Kota city to study without any stress and reach out to him in case of any trouble. Addressing the students on New Year's eve, he also touched upon rising concern among parents over the aspirants taking their lives after failing to crack various competitive exams. "Students should not be depressed about their studies. Life is full of challenges and one who is determined and works hard for his goal never fails," he said on Saturday. The Kota-Bundi MP also asked the students to remain positive and in high spirits in 2023. He said whenever parliamentarians from various parts of the country visit him, they talk about the children from their respective states studying here and inquire about their well-being. "Each and every family living in Kota is your family and they will take care of you," Birla told the students. He also assured to provide them with phone numbers of his local office and the one in Delhi, and asked

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla urges MPs to wear masks, follow Covid norms

Amid fresh concerns over coronavirus, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday advised parliamentarians to wear a mask and spread awareness about Covid-appropriate behaviour. Birla came to the House wearing a mask himself and said Covid cases are once again on the rise in certain countries. He said the government has taken quick steps and asked people to wear masks in crowded place and follow Covid-related protocols. "We should be vigilant keeping in mind the past trends of the pandemic," he told the members. He also said masks have been made available for MPs at the gates and they should all wear one. Covid is back at the centre of India's health and political map with the government on Wednesday advising people to get vaccinated and mask up, and saying random sample testing will be conducted at airports for passengers arriving from China and other countries.