From rap to Rahul Gandhi to House norms being ‘ignored’: Opposition unitedly approaches Om Birla

Sources said the Opposition letter raises 12 points, including the non-appointment of a Deputy Speaker in the Lok Sabha, “disregard” for Business Advisory Committee (BAC) decisions, “neglect” of adjournment motions, “exclusion of key ministries” in Budget discussions, and “switching off of microphones” of Opposition leaders.

The Speaker, who met the Opposition leaders during Zero Hour, reportedly assured them that he would go through the issues and get back.

While INDIA bloc leaders have earlier too come together on issues in the 18th Lok Sabha, the Trinamool Congress also joined them this time. A Congress leader underlined the significance of this, adding that “the issues we have raised in the letter are also significant”.

Congress Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi told reporters after the meeting with Birla: “We conveyed our collective concern and collective disappointment… on how the ruling side is violating traditions, rules and culture of the House.”

The INDIA bloc delegation included the Congress, TMC, Samajwadi Party, DMK, Kerala Congress, RJD, IUML, Rashtriya Loktantrik Party, Shiv Sena (UBT) and MDMK, while the letter given to Birla also carried the signature of the RSP.

Apart from Gogoi, those who met Birla included Congress general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal, party whip Manickam Tagore, the DMK’s A Raja, the NCP (SP)’s Supriya Sule, the TMC’s Kalyan Banerjee, the SP’s Dharmendra Yadav and the Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Arvind Sawant.

Gogoi again referred to the fact that the Speaker had not indicated the reason for his observation against Gandhi during the Lok Sabha proceedings Wednesday. “The whole country saw it. The LoP is a Constitutional post, remarks were made about him (Gandhi), but he was not allowed to speak. There was no clarity on what incident the Speaker was referring to, but the BJP IT cell is politicising the issue,” Gogoi said.

Soon after the incident in the Lok Sabha, BJP IT department head Amit Malviya suggested on X that the Speaker’s remarks were prompted by Gandhi affectionately cupping the face of his sister and MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra during proceedings in the House on March 18.

“We are capable of taking on the BJP and its IT cell outside Parliament. But inside the House, the conventions of Parliament and the dignity of posts have to be protected,” Gogoi said. One of the things Opposition leaders raised, as per sources, was BJP MPs greeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi with slogans of “Modi Modi” whenever he came to the House, despite this not being allowed by the Speaker.

However, as per sources in the NDA, there have been “many complaints to the Speaker” about Gandhi’s conduct inside the House, including on March 18. “There are Akhilesh Yadav and his wife Dimple Yadav… they always behave like two MPs, not as a couple,” an NDA MP said.

Congress leaders say that if Birla took exception to this, he could have called Gandhi to his chambers and talked to him, instead of making a statement in the House.

On the Deputy Speaker’s post, the letter submitted by the Opposition says it has been vacant since 2019 despite Article 93 of the Constitution mandating the same. “The absence of a Deputy Speaker sets a dangerous precedent, affecting the neutrality and functioning of the House,” reads the letter.

The letter adds: “Also, by convention, whenever the LoP stands up, he or she is usually allowed to speak… However, the present government repeatedly denies the LoP an opportunity to speak, even when formally requested.”

A party leader said another point they had raised was that the “unilateral” introduction of business in the House by the government “without prior consultation or information”. “The Prime Minister’s statement last week on Kumbh Mela was not scheduled nor was the House informed.”

The Opposition also talked about private member’s Bills and resolutions not getting sufficient time, and some key ministries being kept out of discussions.

“Debate on significant ministries keeps getting skipped, which leads to curtailing of parliamentary scrutiny over Budget allocations. The government rarely lets any debate under 193 – which includes voting in the Lok Sabha – and avoids accountability,” said an MP.

Another MP said: “We also raised the interference in parliamentary panels. There are instances where the Speaker vets and suggests corrections in the committee reports. This is against the impartiality and autonomy of standing committees.”

The letter to Birla also says “it has become a pattern that whenever Opposition floor leaders and MPs speak, the Sansad TV camera changes its angle and does not show the floor leaders and MPs”.