New Delhi, March 26: Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday criticized Speaker Om Birla, accusing him of preventing him from speaking in the House.
Gandhi also alleged that the Speaker made an "unsubstantiated remark" about him before adjourning the session.
"I don’t know what is happening... I requested the Speaker to let me speak, but he just walked away. This is no way to run the House. The Speaker left without allowing me to speak and made some baseless comments about me. He adjourned the House when there was no need to. It’s a convention that the Leader of Opposition is given time to speak. But whenever I stand up, I’m stopped. I was sitting quietly, and yet, there is no place for democracy here—only room for the government," Rahul Gandhi told reporters.
The Leader of Opposition expressed his desire to speak about the Maha Kumbh Mela and unemployment, but claimed he was not allowed to do so.
"Prime Minister ji spoke about the Maha Kumbh Mela, and I too wanted to address it. I wanted to say that the Kumbh Mela was very good, and I also wanted to discuss the issue of unemployment, but I wasn’t given the chance. I don’t understand the Speaker’s approach or thinking, but the fact is, we are not being allowed to speak," he added.
In response, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla reminded the Leader of Opposition to adhere to the rules of the House and maintain proper conduct.
"It is expected of you to uphold the high parameters of decorum and sanctity of the House. There are several incidents in my knowledge when MPs conduct was not in accordance with upholding the high parameters of decorum and sanctity of the House. Fathers, daughters, mothers, wife and husbands have been Members of this House. So, in this context, I expect the LoP to conduct as per the rules...It is especially expected of the LoP to maintain their conduct," the Lok Sabha Speaker said and adjourned the House.
