Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. File | Photo credit: ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (March 15, 2026) praised Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla for conducting the proceedings of the House with “commitment, patience and impartiality”, saying his actions would strengthen parliamentary democracy in the country.
In a letter to Mr. Birla, the Prime Minister congratulated the members of the House for rejecting “political malfeasance” by defeating the opposition motion of no confidence in the Speaker in the Lok Sabha.
“After the motion of no confidence was rejected, I listened carefully to the statement you made in the House. The way you spoke about parliamentary history, the responsibility of the Speaker and the supremacy of the rules, with poise, patience and clarity, is very impressive. I congratulate you on that,” he said.
“Disagreement turned into disrespect”
Describing Parliament as the highest platform of democratic institutions, Mr. Modi said the responsibility of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha was not only to conduct the proceedings but also to protect the democratic traditions, rules and dignity of the institutions.
The prime minister said differences of opinion were natural in a democracy, but added that it was worrying when political disagreements turned into disrespect for parliamentary dignity. “It is at such times that the person sitting in the chair is tested. The delicacy, balance and impartiality with which you have faced these situations is commendable,” he said.
During Sumitra Mahajan’s tenure as Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the behavior of some members was also not in line with the dignity expected of them, Mr. Modi said. “Unfortunately, even today, such tendencies are visible… it affects the dignity of an institution that is a symbol of the entire democracy,” he said.
He said that “some dynastic and feudal minded people” were not able to easily accept any new person who came forward, or that new and young MPs would be given an equal opportunity to speak. During Mr. Birla’s tenure, the spirit of giving voice to every section of the society was constantly expanding and he fulfilled his duties even in adverse circumstances, the Prime Minister said.
“Dialogue, Debate and Reasoning”
Sharing the letter through a post on X, Mr. Birla said Mr. Modi’s message would inspire all elected representatives in Parliament, state legislatures and local bodies and cut across party lines.
“Your letter expresses the highest ethical values of public service that you have lived by throughout your long public life; both in your current role as Prime Minister of India and previously as Chief Minister of Gujarat. You have always believed deeply in the fundamental nature of Parliament: dialogue, debate and deliberation,” the spokesman said.
In a message to all political parties, Mr. Birla urged them to join hands and strive to further strengthen public faith in parliamentary democracy. The dignity and prestige of India’s parliamentary democracy has recently been undermined by the behavior of some members, he said.
“The manner in which banners, placards and hoardings are displayed inside the meeting hall and the parliamentary complex, the kind of language used and the nature of the conduct and behavior displayed are matters of deep concern to all of us. It is imperative that we all, individually and collectively, engage in serious reflection and analysis of this situation,” he said.
Published – 15 March 2026 21:14 IST
