Rajasthan Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani called for international support for India's permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council as he attended the opening session of a BRICS parliamentary conference at Parliament in New Delhi on Monday, October 26, 2026.
Devnani also urged legislatures to devote more time to public concerns and substantive debate. He described cooperation between parliaments as a way to address shared global challenges, while stressing the responsibilities of both the government and the opposition within democratic institutions.
Call for India's greater role in global institutions
Devnani argued that international institutions need stronger participation by developing countries in decision-making. He said India deserved a greater role at the United Nations and its Security Council, and appealed for wider backing for its bid for a permanent seat.
He said several countries, including participants in the BRICS parliamentary forum, had already supported India's claim. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's diplomacy with expanding international support and argued that global institutions would become more effective by giving countries such as India adequate representation.
Climate change, environmental concerns and terrorism were among the challenges Devnani identified as requiring cooperation across borders. With countries facing tensions and regional divisions, he called for collective efforts to improve people's lives.
More time for debate and public problems
Turning to democratic practice, Devnani called for more sittings of Parliament and state assemblies, with greater discussion of important public-interest issues. He said parliamentary forums should help representatives raise people's problems and work towards solutions.
He expressed concern that disruptions were taking up time intended for meaningful debate. Both the government and the opposition, he said, had a responsibility to bring public concerns before the House and work towards resolving them.
Devnani also criticised what he described as shortcomings in the opposition's current role. Recalling earlier parliamentary debates, he called for members to follow established conventions and maintain the dignity of proceedings.
Cooperation and trust in democratic institutions
Devnani said growing public participation was bringing higher expectations of elected representatives, from panchayats and municipalities to state assemblies and the Lok Sabha. He urged representatives to preserve trust in constitutional institutions and keep public welfare central to their work.
He pointed to all-party meetings convened by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and said he had taken similar initiatives in Rajasthan. He called for dialogue to continue despite disagreements, with the aim of making House proceedings more effective.
The conference, chaired by Birla, brought together parliamentary representatives from BRICS member and partner countries, Union ministers, presiding officers of state legislatures and members of Parliament.
