Lok Sabha speaker election: Hope voice of opposition will be allowed in Lok Sabha, says Rahul Gandhi

Congratulating Om Birla for being elected speaker of the Lok Sabha for a second term Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said he hoped the Opposition would be allowed to raise the voice of people in the House reported news agency PTIHe also said the Opposition wanted the House to function often and well and added that it was very important that cooperation happens with trustId like to congratulate you for your successful election I congratulate you on behalf of the entire INDIA alliance This House represents the voice of people of India Of course the government has political power but the opposition also represents the voice of Indias people the Congress leader said reported PTIThe opposition would like to assist you in your work I am confident you will allow us to speak in House he said reported PTIPointing out that this time the opposition represents significantly more voices of the Indian people than last time Rahul Gandhi stressed that it was very important that the voice of opposition is allowed to be represented in the HouseI am confident that you will allow us to represent our voice allow us to speak to represent voice of people of India he said reported PTIThe question he said is not how efficiently the House is run the question is how much of Indias voice is allowed to be heard in the HouseThe idea that you can run the House efficiently by silencing the voice of opposition is a nondemocratic idea This election has shown that the people of India expect the opposition to defend the Constitution of this country and we are confident that by allowing Opposition to speak you will do your duty of defending the Constitution of India the Congress MP said reported PTIAfter the Lok Sabha speaker election Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated Om Birla on his reelection as Lok Sabha Speaker expressing confidence that he will guide parliamentarians and play a big role in the House fulfilling peoples expectations reported news agency PTIPM Modi and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju were joined by the Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in escorting Birla the BJP MP from Kota to the Speakers chair after his election marking a moment of bipartisan harmony after a day of rancour between the ruling alliance and opposition parties over the Lok Sabha speaker election reported PTICongratulating him on his fresh term on behalf of the entire House the prime minister lauded the thirdterm MP for his conduct as Speaker in the previous Lok Sabha and also as a parliamentarian reported PTIPM Modi said Birla presided over a golden era in Lok Sabhas history as a number of historic decisions were taken during its previous term Noting that he is the first Speaker after Balram Jakhar who was in the Chair between 1980 and 1989 to get another term after serving a full tenure the prime minister expressed confidence that he will continue to create new bench marks reported PTIThe previous Lok Sabha notched up to 97 per cent productivity highest in 25 years he said adding that Birla ensured the Houses functioning even during the Covid period and maintained its dignity and decorum at times by taking difficult decision reported PTIBirlas sweet smile keeps the House happy he saidIn over the last two decades outgoing speakers either did not contest elections or lost in the poll PM Modi said adding Birla created history in this sense as well reported PTIWith inputs from PTI