Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi has alleged that he is being deliberately prevented from speaking in the Lok Sabha, accusing Speaker Om Birla of running the House in an undemocratic manner. His remarks came after the Speaker adjourned the House while denying him an opportunity to address the session.
“I don’t understand what is happening. I requested the Speaker to allow me to speak, but he just left without listening. This is not how parliamentary proceedings should be conducted. The Speaker made an unsubstantiated remark about me and then adjourned the House when there was no reason to do so,” Mr. Gandhi told reporters outside Parliament.
The Congress MP from Rae Bareli emphasized that it is a long-standing convention for the Leader of the Opposition to be given a chance to address the House. “Every time I try to speak, I am stopped. We are not being allowed to express our views. I was sitting quietly and had not said a word, yet I have been denied the opportunity to speak for seven or eight days now. This seems to be a new tactic to silence the Opposition completely. There is no space for us in the House,” he said.
Referring to a recent speech by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Maha Kumbh, Mr. Gandhi said he wanted to contribute to the discussion by raising the issue of unemployment but was not permitted to speak. “The Prime Minister spoke about Kumbh Mela, and I wanted to add something. I wanted to bring up unemployment, but I was not allowed. I don’t understand the Speaker’s approach. This is an undemocratic way of functioning,” he said.
Speaker Stresses on Decorum, Invokes Rule 349
Before adjourning the House, Speaker Om Birla stressed that members must maintain decorum and discipline during parliamentary proceedings. “Several instances have come to my notice where the conduct of members has not met the high standards expected in this House. This House has witnessed father-daughter, mother-daughter, and husband-wife members. In this context, I expect the Leader of the Opposition to conduct himself in accordance with Rule 349,” he stated.
Rule 349 of the Lok Sabha procedures lays out the code of conduct that members must follow while participating in House proceedings. The Speaker’s statement appeared to be directed at Rahul Gandhi and his remarks in Parliament.
Uproar Over Prime Minister’s Speech on Maha Kumbh
The controversy follows an uproar in the Lok Sabha last week during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech about the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj. The Prime Minister had lauded the religious gathering, calling it a testament to India’s cultural heritage and organizational capabilities. However, as he spoke, Opposition members began protesting, questioning the government’s handling of the recent stampede at the event, which resulted in multiple deaths.
Amid the uproar, Speaker Om Birla invoked Rule 372, stating that the Prime Minister or any minister has the right to make statements in the House without being interrupted or required to take questions from other members.
Rahul Gandhi later addressed the media, clarifying that he had no objections to the Prime Minister’s praise for the Kumbh Mela but was disappointed that he did not acknowledge those who lost their lives in the tragedy. “I wanted to support what the Prime Minister said. Kumbh is a part of our tradition, history, and culture. But our only concern is that the Prime Minister did not pay tribute to those who died during the Kumbh Mela stampede,” he said.
Congress Leader Calls for Debate on Unemployment
Mr. Gandhi further stated that the country’s youth had expected discussions on job opportunities, especially in the context of the Maha Kumbh event, which attracts millions of people and generates temporary employment. “The Prime Minister should have spoken about employment opportunities for the youth. Kumbh is not just about religious gatherings; it is also an economic opportunity for many. But instead of discussing these critical issues, the government is avoiding questions,” he remarked.
When asked by reporters why he was repeatedly being denied the opportunity to speak in Parliament, Mr. Gandhi responded, “In a true democracy, the Leader of the Opposition should have a fair opportunity to express his views. But they are deliberately not allowing it. This is the new India they are creating—one where only the government’s voice matters and the Opposition is silenced.”
Congress Slams Government for Stifling Opposition
The Congress party has strongly condemned what it calls a systematic attempt to silence Opposition voices in Parliament. Senior Congress leaders have accused the government and the Speaker of suppressing dissent and blocking important discussions on pressing issues like unemployment, inflation, and governance failures.
“This is not just about Rahul Gandhi. The entire Opposition is being denied the right to speak. The government only wants to hear its own voice. Parliament is meant to be a place for debate and discussion, not a platform for one-sided monologues,” a senior Congress leader said.
As tensions between the government and the Opposition continue to escalate, it remains to be seen how the Speaker and ruling party respond to allegations of stifling parliamentary debate. Meanwhile, the Congress party has vowed to continue its fight for what it calls the “restoration of democratic values” in the country’s highest legislative body.
Rahul Gandhi Accuses Lok Sabha Speaker of Silencing Opposition in Parliament
Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi has alleged that he is being deliberately prevented from speaking in the Lok Sabha, accusing Speaker Om Birla of running the House in an undemocratic manner. His remarks came after the Speaker adjourned the House while denying him an opportunity to address the session.
“I don’t understand what is happening. I requested the Speaker to allow me to speak, but he just left without listening. This is not how parliamentary proceedings should be conducted. The Speaker made an unsubstantiated remark about me and then adjourned the House when there was no reason to do so,” Mr. Gandhi told reporters outside Parliament.
The Congress MP from Rae Bareli emphasized that it is a long-standing convention for the Leader of the Opposition to be given a chance to address the House. “Every time I try to speak, I am stopped. We are not being allowed to express our views. I was sitting quietly and had not said a word, yet I have been denied the opportunity to speak for seven or eight days now. This seems to be a new tactic to silence the Opposition completely. There is no space for us in the House,” he said.
Referring to a recent speech by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Maha Kumbh, Mr. Gandhi said he wanted to contribute to the discussion by raising the issue of unemployment but was not permitted to speak. “The Prime Minister spoke about Kumbh Mela, and I wanted to add something. I wanted to bring up unemployment, but I was not allowed. I don’t understand the Speaker’s approach. This is an undemocratic way of functioning,” he said.
Speaker Stresses on Decorum, Invokes Rule 349
Before adjourning the House, Speaker Om Birla stressed that members must maintain decorum and discipline during parliamentary proceedings. “Several instances have come to my notice where the conduct of members has not met the high standards expected in this House. This House has witnessed father-daughter, mother-daughter, and husband-wife members. In this context, I expect the Leader of the Opposition to conduct himself in accordance with Rule 349,” he stated.
Rule 349 of the Lok Sabha procedures lays out the code of conduct that members must follow while participating in House proceedings. The Speaker’s statement appeared to be directed at Rahul Gandhi and his remarks in Parliament.
Uproar Over Prime Minister’s Speech on Maha Kumbh
The controversy follows an uproar in the Lok Sabha last week during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech about the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj. The Prime Minister had lauded the religious gathering, calling it a testament to India’s cultural heritage and organizational capabilities. However, as he spoke, Opposition members began protesting, questioning the government’s handling of the recent stampede at the event, which resulted in multiple deaths.
Amid the uproar, Speaker Om Birla invoked Rule 372, stating that the Prime Minister or any minister has the right to make statements in the House without being interrupted or required to take questions from other members.
Rahul Gandhi later addressed the media, clarifying that he had no objections to the Prime Minister’s praise for the Kumbh Mela but was disappointed that he did not acknowledge those who lost their lives in the tragedy. “I wanted to support what the Prime Minister said. Kumbh is a part of our tradition, history, and culture. But our only concern is that the Prime Minister did not pay tribute to those who died during the Kumbh Mela stampede,” he said.
Congress Leader Calls for Debate on Unemployment
Mr. Gandhi further stated that the country’s youth had expected discussions on job opportunities, especially in the context of the Maha Kumbh event, which attracts millions of people and generates temporary employment. “The Prime Minister should have spoken about employment opportunities for the youth. Kumbh is not just about religious gatherings; it is also an economic opportunity for many. But instead of discussing these critical issues, the government is avoiding questions,” he remarked.
When asked by reporters why he was repeatedly being denied the opportunity to speak in Parliament, Mr. Gandhi responded, “In a true democracy, the Leader of the Opposition should have a fair opportunity to express his views. But they are deliberately not allowing it. This is the new India they are creating—one where only the government’s voice matters and the Opposition is silenced.”
Congress Slams Government for Stifling Opposition
The Congress party has strongly condemned what it calls a systematic attempt to silence Opposition voices in Parliament. Senior Congress leaders have accused the government and the Speaker of suppressing dissent and blocking important discussions on pressing issues like unemployment, inflation, and governance failures.
“This is not just about Rahul Gandhi. The entire Opposition is being denied the right to speak. The government only wants to hear its own voice. Parliament is meant to be a place for debate and discussion, not a platform for one-sided monologues,” a senior Congress leader said.
As tensions between the government and the Opposition continue to escalate, it remains to be seen how the Speaker and ruling party respond to allegations of stifling parliamentary debate. Meanwhile, the Congress party has vowed to continue its fight for what it calls the “restoration of democratic values” in the country’s highest legislative body. source ndtv.com
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