New LS Speaker Mahajan urges MPs to keep national interest in mind

New Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan appealed to all members of the House on Friday to ensure that parliament be known for its healthy discussions and debates, and also sought their cooperation in running the House in an orderly manner.

Addressing the house after being elected unanimously as the second woman Speaker, the first being Meira Kumar, the eight-time BJP MP from Indore,said that Members of Parliament should hold their discussions and debates in calm and mature manner, reflecting the highest principles of public life.

Emphasizing that the people of the nation were watching proceedings in Parliament, Mahajan, who spoke in Hindi, said: "I appeal to everyone to hold discussions in a calm manner... Our parliament was known for good discussions. We have strayed from that, healthy discussions should be the norm now."

"The Lok Sabha is a sign of our diversity and unity, and emblem of our national sentiments. We can't dwell on our regional sentiment and must keep national sentiments in mind, she added.