‘Serious issues should be discussed, but there should be no obstructions in Vidhan Sabha, Lok Sabha’: Om Birla

#WATCH | At the inauguration event of the new building of the Assam Legislative Assembly, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla says, “…So, I’d like to tell you that this is the temple of our democracy. There should be deliberations, discussions & dialogues in this temple. Every serious… pic.twitter.com/357sH4nLcl

— ANI (@ANI) July 30, 2023

Birla referred to the State Legislative Assembly as a “temple of democracy” where work is carried out for public welfare. “…I’d like to tell you that this is the temple of our democracy. There should be deliberations, discussions and dialogues in this temple. Every serious issue should be discussed. But there should be no obstructions in Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha,” he said.

Birla’s remarks come in the backdrop of the continuing standoff between the Centre and the Opposition, which has led to stalled proceedings in Parliament. The Monsoon Session, which began on July 20, has seen wash-outs and disruptions with the Opposition demanding a statement by the Prime Minister on the ensuing violence in Manipur.

“It is hoped that this new building will prove to be a new power center to fulfill the hopes and aspirations of the people of Assam,” the Lok Sabha speaker said in a tweet following the inauguration.

गुवाहाटी में असम विधान सभा के नए भवन का लोकार्पण किया। असम विधान सभा ने लोकतंत्र की गौरवशाली परम्पराओं को समृद्ध करते हुए सदैव नागरिकों के कल्याण के लिए कार्य किया है। आशा है यह नया भवन असम के लोगों की आशाओं और आकांक्षाओं की पूर्ति का नवीन शक्ति केंद्र सिद्ध होगा। pic.twitter.com/7PR4ZftxdP

— Om Birla (@ombirlakota) July 30, 2023

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal were also present during the inauguration.

Earlier Numal Momin, Deputy Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly told ANI that the next assembly session will be held in the new building. “The new building has new features. We are planning for e-Vidhan which will be shortly in the new building. It will be a very modern assembly in Assam for the first time. The next assembly session will be held in the new building.”

According to ANI, Mumin said the construction of the new building was started long before during the Congress regime and it has been re-designed a little bit.

The Assembly was earlier functioning from an old tea warehouse, which was converted for the sittings when Dispur became the capital of Assam in 1972, as per PTI .