The Impressive TimesLisbon, 03 June 2026: Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla today said that “India firmly adheres to a Zero Tolerance Policy against terrorism and all nations should come together in this global fight.” He underlined that “terrorism poses the greatest threat to global peace, stability, and human rights in today’s world.” He added that to eliminate the menace of terrorism, all progressive nations must unite and develop a joint strategy. Speaking about the recent Pahalgam terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir, Shri Birla said that “the attack aimed to disrupt India’s progress and social harmony. However, the courage, skill, and intelligence of Indian security forces thwarted these malicious intentions.” Shri Birla further said that “under the ‘Operation Sindoor’ military campaign, India neutralized terrorist hideouts and eliminated the threat.”
Shri Birla made these remarks during a bilateral meeting with H.E. Mr. José Pedro Aguiar- Branco, President of the Assembly of the Portuguese Republic in Lisbon, Portugal. He is currently leading an Indian Parliamentary Delegation (IPD) to the 11th BRICS Parliamentary Forum being held in Brasilia, Brazil from 3-6 June 2025.
Shri Birla recalled that the “relationship between India and Portugal is over 500 years old. This historical connection goes beyond trade and commerce and has fostered a strong people-to-people connect between our citizens.” He added that “over the past five decades, our bilateral relations have significantly deepened. Today, India and Portugal are actively working to strengthen our shared cultural ties and pursue mutually beneficial development.”Noting that the two countries share common democratic values, a commitment to peace, pluralism, and human rights — which make them natural partners on global platforms. Shri Birla added that “High-level visits and dialogues have encouraged us to work together more closely in today’s global context.”Shri Birla further said that the economic partnership between the two countries continues to grow and in recent years, bilateral trade has increased by 50%. He added that, “India regards Portugal as a trusted and rapidly emerging economy. There is immense potential for collaboration in sectors like renewable energy, digital technology, and defense manufacturing.”
Shri Birla informed that Parliament of India is undergoing several technology-based initiatives to keep pace with modern needs. Observing that with the use of AI, India’s legislative processes have become more transparent, efficient, and citizen-centric, Shri Birla added that, “Digital Sansad is a technology-based platform that has modernized India’s Parliament. It connects MPs, citizens, ministries, and all stakeholders, making operations faster, more transparent, and accessible. It has also increased public engagement in legislative proceedings.” He also said that “With the help of AI, old parliamentary records are being digitized, thereby preserving India’s legislative heritage and making it widely accessible.”
Shri Birla said that due to India’s linguistic diversity, Parliament of India has used AI tools to make parliamentary proceedings available to the public in their own languages. He added that “through these tools, proceedings are provided in India’s 22 constitutional languages, ensuring more effective public engagement with Parliament.” He observed that, “India’s Parliament is perhaps the only one in the world that provides its members with access to parliamentary documents and translations in all 22 constitutionally recognized Indian languages.”
During the day, Lok Sabha Speaker also met H.E. Mr. Maina Talia, Minister for Home Affairs, Climate Change, and Environment of Tuvalu. The two leaders discussed avenues to strengthen India–Tuvalu cooperation in health, climate action, education, and strategic partnerships. Shri Birla expressed his appreciation of Tuvalu’s strong condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack and their unwavering support for global unity in the fight against terrorism.
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