India is not a country to be terrified of threats said LokSabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday, in a strict warning to Pakistan PrimeMinister Imran Khan over his remarks. The Lok Sabha Speaker in an exclusiveinterview to Zee News spoke on a host of topics including Article 370, Securityof the country, Triple Talaq Bill, paperless Parliament.

On August 6, when Lok Sabha revoked Article 370 in Jammu andKashmir, Khan had alleged in the Pakistan Parliament that India has no interestin talks with Pakistan, adding that the Indian government's ideology is theideology of RSS. He had said, "Their founders had the ideology that theywill remove Muslims from India after independence. They want Hindus to be in aposition of dominance." He also accused the step on J&K as "aplanned move".Speaking on Khan's comment, Speaker Birla said that it wastheir Parliament and he can say anything but India is not afraid of any threat.He asserted that the Army is resolute on the borders, adding that they arevigorously guarding the nation. He also said that our military power is strongand India will not get petrified and threatened by "any Pakistan"."Weare strong on the borders, India is strong internally as well, I do not thinkhe can speak in his Parliament, but the Indian Army is very strong, it isequipped with modern weapons. After the past several incidents, we have seenthat when a finger is pointed at the nation the 130 crore people are alwaysstanding with the government," said Speaker Birla.Reacting on the passageof the Triple Talaq Bill to becoming an act, he said that people will benefitfrom it. "Constitutionally all religions have been given their own rightsin the country, so Muslim women should also get constitutional rights. Therefore,the bill has been passed in Parliament and enacted a law, giving Muslim womenrights," he said.Supporting the scrapping of Article 370, Speaker Birlasaid that the people have been talking about for years how different lawsshould not be applicable for different regions within the country.

"It was debated, discussed and the matter came intolight that the laws passed in the Parliament were not applicable there (Jammuand Kashmir). I think the government passed this law on the basis of majority.Through this law, the sentiment of the people is being expressed, you areseeing for yourself that the people of the country are expressing theirsentiments."The people of the country, as well as the people of Jammu andKashmir, should be confident that full justice will be done to them. Kashmir isalso an integral part of India. I can say that the best scenic tourism centreis there, it is also the crown of India. Now after the enactment of a law, thepeople there will also get legal rights and they will also get benefits. Peopleof Kashmir have faith, Parliament stands with them. The will be given justicewithin the Constitution," said Birla.

Birla advised the Opposition to not keep party ideals abovethe country on the issue of Article 370. "Every political party has itsown ideology and resolution, so they have the right to express the ideology oftheir party. But the interest of the country should be the first priority. Allparties should take care that the country does not suffer due to this,"said Birla.

Speaking on making Parliament paperless, he said, "Thedigital age has started in the world. Much paper is used in Parliament,therefore, the MPs have been asked as to how Parliament can be made fullydigital so that paper is used less. Suggestions of members have also been takenon this. MPs have given their consent to form a paperless Parliament. You willsee its effect in the coming session."