President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday addressed the joint session of the Parliament where she launched a scathing attack on Emergency imposed by the then Congress government in 1975 and said that it was the “biggest” and “darkest” chapter of the direct attack on the Constitution.
In her first presidential address after the formation of the BJP-led NDA government for the third time at the Centre post-general elections, she also referred to the alleged irregularities in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET UG-2024) and said that the ongoing probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the NEET paper leak case will “fix accountability”.
Following the address, a motion of thanks will be moved in both the Houses of Parliament, which will be discussed by the lawmakers. The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha commenced on Monday, and the Rajya Sabha session will start today.
Earlier on Wednesday, NDA candidate Om Birla was elected as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha for the second time in a row after Prime Minister Narendra Modi moved the motion in the House. Birla defeated the Opposition’s candidate, an eight-term Congress MP, Kodikkunil Suresh, through a voice vote.
Post-election, Birla received congratulations from PM Modi, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and various leaders from both the NDA and the opposition. After 1952, 1967, and 1976, this was the fourth time the Speaker was elected by way of an election.
Speaking on occasion, Birla urged that there should be a new vision and resolve for the 18th Lok Sabha. He called for the 18th Lok Sabha to be a centre of creative thinking and new ideas, which would establish high levels of parliamentary traditions and dignity and added that the aim of the House should be to fulfil the resolve of Viksit Bharat.
Further, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the imposition of Emergency on June 26, 1975, the speaker praised the strength and determination of all those who strongly opposed the Emergency, fought and protected India’s democracy.
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