The Lok Sabha on Tuesday began the discussion on a resolution seeking the removal of Speaker Om Birla after Congress MP Mohammad Jawed formally moved the motion in the House.
Though the motion, signed by 118 Opposition MPs, accuses the Speaker of “partisan” conduct, citing instances of Opposition leaders allegedly not being allowed to speak, the debate soon turned into a sparring match between the BJP-led government and the INDIA bloc with liberal references to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and accusations flying from all sides.
Since the Opposition lacks the numbers, the motion and the debate is widely seen as an attempt to send a broader political message by the Opposition, and also the ruling party. Defending Birla, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said there was “no cure” for those who believed they were above the authority of the Speaker, an apparent reference to Gandhi.
The discussion itself began on a contentious note, with Opposition members questioning the validity of proceedings being conducted by someone nominated by the very Speaker against whom the motion had been moved. BJP MP Jagdambika Pal was at that time presiding over the proceedings.
AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi first raised the issue, followed by Congress leaders K. C. Venugopal and Gaurav Gogoi. Home Minister Amit Shah intervened, arguing that the Speaker’s office cannot remain vacant. “The word ‘preside’ refers to conducting the proceedings of the House. Even when elections for the Speaker take place, the functioning of the office continues.” Shah said.
The Home Minister is also expected to reply to the debate.
Opposition leaders also pointed out that during the three previous occasions when resolutions were moved against a Lok Sabha Speaker, the Deputy Speaker had presided over the proceedings. The current government, however, has not appointed one. When Gogoi criticised Rijiju, saying that he would be remembered as the Parliamentary Affairs Minister who interrupted the Opposition the most, Shah said he agreed with Gogoi – that Rijiju had indeed interrupted the most – adding that the country had never seen such an “irresponsible Opposition”.
Initiating the debate, Gogoi said the motion was not aimed at targeting Birla personally but at preserving the dignity of the Lok Sabha. He alleged that even the microphone system was being “weaponised” against Opposition members. Microphones were readily available to the ruling side but were often switched off when Opposition leaders, particularly Gandhi, tried to speak, he alleged.
Gogoi cited issues on which Gandhi sought to speak but was prevented from doing so, including former Army chief M. M. Naravane’s book, the Epstein files, and India’s trade agreement with the U.S. Speaking about when Birla advised the Prime Minister not to attend the House during the reply to the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address, Gogoi said the Speaker cited “credible information that certain women MPs intended to surround the Prime Minister’s chair and create an unexpected situation, calling it “shameful”,
Defending Birla, Rijiju highlighted several procedural reforms during his tenure, including an increase in matters raised under Rule 377, special mentions, and opportunities given to the Opposition to ask supplementary questions. Quoting remarks made by former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru during a no-confidence motion against the Speaker in 1954, Rijiju said the Speaker and the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha are custodians of parliamentary institutions.
Referring to Gandhi’s statement that he did not require anyone’s permission to speak in Parliament, Rijiju said in this House, whether it is the Prime Minister, a minister or the Leader of the Opposition, everyone needs the Speaker’s permission to speak. Microphones do not automatically turn on for ministers either and all members must follow established rules, he asserted. At one point, he referred to an earlier Lok Sabha session when Gandhi went over to the Treasury Benches to hug PM Modi. “Have you seen any Leader of the Opposition run to hug the Prime Minister and then go back and wink at his colleagues,” he questioned.