LoP being denied opportunity to speak in Lok Sabha, Opposition writes to Birla

A day after Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi said he was being “denied” the opportunity to speak in Parliament, a delegation of Opposition parties’ met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday to raise the matter with him.

Birla on Wednesday asked Gandhi to conduct himself in line with the rules of procedure that the members were expected to observe to uphold the dignity of the House. The LoP claimed that the remarks against him were “unsubstantiated”.

Birla did not specify the trigger behind censuring Gandhi, who was present in the House and wanted to speak on some issue. He adjourned the proceedings after making his point.

Congress’s deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi said the INDIA bloc delegation, comprising the Congress, SP, TMC, DMK, Kerala Congress, RJD, IUML, RLP and MDMK, met the Speaker during the zero hour.

“We have given a letter, which was signed by many parties, conveying our collective concern and disappointment on how the ruling side is violating the traditions, rules and culture of the House,” Gogoi told reporters after the meeting.

Gogoi said yesterday there was no clarity from the Speaker’s side when he made comments against LoP Rahul Gandhi. “When the LoP stood up, the House was adjourned. He was not allowed to speak, despite his name being taken in the House. The whole country saw it. LoP is a constitutional post. Remarks were made about him, but he was not allowed to speak. There was no clarity on what incident the speaker was referring to when he made a reference to Rule 349, but the BJP’s IT cell was politicising the issue,” he said.

The convention of allowing the LoP to speak when they stand up has been disregarded repeatedly. This breaks from past parliamentary practices and diminishes the space for a healthy debate in the House, the Congress leader said.

“A well-functioning democracy requires the smooth operation of Parliament, where all members, irrespective of party affiliation, are given an equal opportunity to debate, deliberate and discharge their constitutional duties. However, certain disturbing trends have emerged, which undermine the sanctity of Parliament,” the Opposition leaders have mentioned in the letter.

The Opposition has also raised the issue of “non-appointment” of a deputy speaker in the Lok Sabha.

Citing Article 93 of the Constitution, which mandates the election of the speaker and a deputy speaker in the Lok Sabha, the opposition leaders pointed out in their letter to Birla that the deputy speaker’s post has been vacant since 2019. The absence of a deputy speaker sets a dangerous precedent, affecting the neutrality and functioning of the House, the letter stated.

The opposition leaders also said while the business advisory committee’s decisions have traditionally not been binding, the government unilaterally introduces business in the House, without prior consultation or information, the letter mentioned. “For instance, the prime minister’s statement in the House last week was made without prior scheduling or intimation,” the leaders conveyed to the speaker in the letter.

Alleging a neglect of adjournment motions, the lettersaid these motions, which were traditionally read out and allowed discussions during the Zero Hour, are now either ignored or summarily rejected, curtailing the MPs’ right to raise urgent national issues.

The letter aslo stated that private members’ bills and resolutions, which provide non-ministerial MPs an opportunity to propose laws, are not given sufficient time for discussions.

In the letter, the opposition MPs also flagged the issue of their microphones being switched off. They have added that it has become a pattern that whenever opposition floor leaders and MPs speak, the Sansad TV camera changes its angle and does not show them.

They also alleged that opposition parties are not being consulted on the composition and chairmanship of committees.

“We urge you to take appropriate steps to restore fairness, transparency and adherence to established parliamentary norms,” the Opposition leaders mentioned in the letter.