India, Aug. 25 -- The Government of India issued the following news release:

Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla today said that the gradual decline in the dignity of legislative institutions is a matter of concern for all legislators. Freedom of speech and privilege of Members should not be construed as the freedom to lower the dignity of the House, he asserted. Shri Birla made these remarks at Delhi Vidhan Sabha today while delivering the Valedictory Address at the Conference of Presiding Officers of States/Union Territories on the occasion of the centenary year celebration of the election of eminent freedom fighter, scholar and jurist Shri Vitthalbhai Patel as the first Indian President of the Central Legislative Assembly.

Shri Birla urged...