Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday criticized Speaker Om Birla, alleging that he was not allowed to speak in the House and that the Speaker made an “unsubstantiated remark” before abruptly adjourning the session.
“I requested the Speaker to let me speak, but he just ran away. This is no way to run the House. He made an unsubstantiated remark about me and adjourned the House without reason. It is a convention that the LoP is given time to speak, yet whenever I stand up, I am stopped,” Rahul Gandhi told reporters.
Gandhi stated that he intended to discuss the Maha Kumbh Mela and unemployment but was repeatedly denied the opportunity.
“The Prime Minister spoke on Maha Kumbh, and I also wanted to share my thoughts. I wanted to say that the Kumbh Mela was well-organized. Additionally, I wanted to raise concerns about unemployment, but I wasn’t allowed to speak,” he said.
In response, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla reminded Gandhi of the importance of maintaining decorum and following House rules.
“It is expected of you to uphold the high standards of conduct in the House. Several incidents indicate that MPs’ behavior has not been in line with maintaining the dignity of Parliament. As the LoP, you are especially expected to follow the rules,” the Speaker said before adjourning the House.
Congress MP Karti Chidambaram also expressed confusion over the sudden adjournment, comparing the Speaker’s actions to that of a school headmaster.
“I don’t know what happened or what the provocation was. It reminded me of my school days—it felt like I was in a school assembly again. I don’t understand why the House was adjourned,” Chidambaram remarked.
The second part of the budget session, which began on March 10, is scheduled to continue until April 4. However, tensions between the opposition and the ruling government continue to shape the proceedings.
