Congress leader Tariq Anwar has criticized Speaker Om Birla’s decision to give separate seats in the Lok Sabha to 20 rebel TMC MPs. He said that the Speaker is expected to be impartial, but this decision seems to be in favor of the BJP.
New Delhi [भारत]July 19 (ANI): Congress leader Tariq Anwar has condemned Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla’s decision to approve separate sitting arrangements for 20 rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs. He said that a person holding the post of President is expected to adopt an impartial approach.
Congress attacks on Speaker’s decision
Speaking to ANI, Anwar said that the decision was expected. He said, “It was bound to happen…when a person assumes the role of Speaker he is expected to take an impartial approach and act independently.” The Congress leader said the decision suited the BJP, to which Birla belongs.
Before taking this decision, the Speaker had listened to the views of TMC and its rebel group in the last few weeks. The monsoon session of Parliament is starting from tomorrow.
Speaker’s decision on TMC and Shiv Sena rebels
Birla has approved the arrangement of separate sitting in the Lok Sabha for 20 MPs who broke away from Trinamool Congress (TMC). However, the Speaker has not yet approved the merger of rebel TMC MPs with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI). The government has invited the rebel TMC faction to the all-party meeting being held today. Last month, rebel TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar had led a total of 20 MPs and announced its merger with NCPI, a regional party.
Shiv Sena (UBT) has also seen a split, with six Lok Sabha MPs joining the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The Speaker has also approved the merger of six rebel Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs into Shiv Sena. With this, Shiv Sena’s strength in the Lok Sabha has increased to 13, while the number of UBT Sena members has reduced to three. (ANI)
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