Congress MPs meet Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla over Rahul Gandhi not being given opportunity to speak
On Wednesday, a delegation of Congress Members of Parliament (MPs) met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to voice their concerns regarding what they described as the “denial of opportunity” for Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi to speak in the House. The issue arose when Gandhi attempted to address the assembly, only for the session to be abruptly adjourned.
The Congress delegation, which included Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi, party general secretary K.C. Venugopal, whip Manickam Tagore, and approximately 70 other MPs, sought an audience with the Speaker. This meeting followed Birla’s remarks emphasizing the importance of adherence to parliamentary rules and decorum, particularly for the Leader of the Opposition.
Birla reiterated that all members are expected to uphold the dignity and decorum of the House. “The Leader of the Opposition must conduct himself by the established rules,” the Speaker remarked. However, as Gandhi stood up to speak, Birla adjourned the proceedings.
Following the adjournment, Gandhi addressed reporters, expressing his frustration over the situation. He stated that the House was not functioning by democratic principles. “The Speaker remarked me, and when I sought to respond, he simply walked away. I do not understand what is happening. This is not how a parliamentary session should be conducted. There was no reason to adjourn the House at that moment. There is a tradition that the LoP is given the chance to speak whenever they stand. Yet, I am repeatedly denied that opportunity,” Gandhi said.
Responding to the Speaker’s comments on maintaining decorum, Gandhi asserted that he had not breached any parliamentary norms. “For the past seven or eight days, I have been denied the right to speak. There is no space for the Opposition in this House—only the government is given the platform. The Prime Minister spoke about the Kumbh Mela, and I simply wanted to acknowledge it as a good initiative while also raising the issue of unemployment. However, I was not permitted to do so. I fail to understand the Speaker’s rationale behind this decision. As the Leader of the Opposition, representing the main Opposition party, I should have the right to speak,” he added.
The Speaker’s comments regarding the expected conduct of members came towards the end of Venugopal’s speech during a discussion on issues of public importance. The precise reason for these remarks was not immediately apparent.
Birla noted that he had observed multiple instances where the behavior of members did not meet the expected parliamentary standards. “This House has seen family members serving together—fathers and daughters, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives. In this context, I urge the Leader of the Opposition to adhere to Rule 349, which outlines the conduct expected of members in the House,” he stated.
