No trust motion against Birla unusual event: CM

Panaji: Chief minister Pramod Sawant said on Thursday that the no confidence motion moved against Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla was a highly unusual precedent in a democratic set up like ours. “The motion was debated amid much controversy, but I am happy that democratic process and truth prevailed and the motion was decisively defeated,” he said in Birla’s presence at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) India west region zone VII conference in Goa.

“This outcome reaffirmed the fundamental truth of the Parliamentary process. The speaker is not a party figure, but he is the custodian of the House. As home minister Amit Shah rightly remarked, the speaker serves as a natural custodian representing both the ruling and the opposition. This episode showed that our democracy is strong,” said Sawant.

As legislators, our defence can be strong and our conviction firm, but the House should never be allowed the descend into chaos, said the chief minister.

“Let us keep in mind the great responsibility we have. Our actions and policies shape the lives of millions. The youth are watching us for leadership and inspiration. Our citizens expect better services and honest governance. The world looks at India as a modern democracy. Let us share knowledge across states on trade, tourism, urban planning, and environmental protection so that every region grows sustainably,” said the chief minister.

Sawant called for a working group comprising the western states of Goa, Maharashtra, and Gujarat to work together.

“The lesson is clear, sustainable development requires coordination. Let us form the working group in our zones to share the tourism circuits and urban planning and green transports and coastal management,” he said.

These states should learn from each other about park development, waste management, affordable housing initiatives, environment, and coastal connectivity, especially as the three states “share a fragile coastal ecosystem”, said the chief minister.

The states can enhance their coastal connectivity by developing port jetties and ferry services, he said.