Won’t let you chat, stand around: Speaker

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 10

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla is creating a flutter in the House by changing the rules of engagement. Today, he warned MPs against standing and chatting in the aisle and seating areas while proceedings are on.

"I will not let anyone stand or speak out of turn in the House. We have to raise the bar and raise the dignity of this House. The world is watching us. I have repeatedly urged MPs who wish to talk to go out and talk. I will not allow speaking over each other and standing around in the House," Birla said in a firm tone.

To this, TMC leader Sudeep Bandopadhyay said: "Old habits die hard. These habits have been going on for years. But we support your urge and will try to implement it."

Birla had yesterday admonished protesting Congress MPs against bringing papers in the well of the House and said: "Let us not reduce this House to a municipal commission."

Birla, known for terse comments and his Hindi, is already being noticed by everyone in the Lok Sabha as he evolves new rules to balance the concerns of the government and the Opposition while running the House.

So where on the one hand Birla never forgets to exhort MPs to watch their conduct, on the other he makes it a point to accommodate Opposition MPs. For instance, although the Congress walked out during the Zero Hour even after Birla had called out the name of party's first-time MP from Kochi Heibi Iden to speak, Birla again granted time to Iden when Congress leaders returned to the House.

In another important development, Birla allowed Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury to raise the Karnataka crisis issue for the third time in three straight days despite government objections. The government has been citing House rules to say the issue once raised cannot be raised again in the same session.

But Birla allowed Congress' Chowdhury to speak on Karnataka yesterday and again today, provoking Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to note: "The Speaker in his wisdom allowed Congress time to raise the same issue again but the Congress exploited it." Earlier, Birla had allowed UPA chief Sonia Gandhi to make a Zero Hour reference on public sector undertakings even though she had not given the mandatory notice to speak.