Opposition challenges Birla’s conduct as House prepares for heated debate on Monday.
Speaker Om Birla at Lok Sabha
NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha will discuss the no-confidence motion against Speaker Om Birla on March 9 in the second phase of the Budget Session. The BJP and Congress have issued a three-day whip for this purpose. The Lok Sabha has listed a notice from opposition members for Monday to introduce a motion seeking the removal of Om Birla from the Speaker’s position. Upon being summoned by the presiding Chair, 50 members of the House must stand in support for the notice to be considered accepted. The motion will then be discussed and voted on, if 50 members do not stand in support of the notice, the motion cannot be introduced.
However, the ruling party has significant numerical strength in the House, making it almost certain that the motion will be defeated and the opposition will lose the vote. According to sources, Mamata Banerjee’s party, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), agrees with the motion and will vote in favour of the no-confidence motion. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has already stated that the motion will come before the House on March 9. The notice will be introduced by three Congress members—Mohammed Javed, K. Suresh and Mullu Ravi.
The proposed motion questions the Speaker’s conduct for not allowing Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders to speak and for making “inappropriate allegations against women opposition MPs.” It also states that eight opposition MPs were suspended for the entire session for raising issues of public importance, while ruling party members were not reprimanded for making “highly objectionable and derogatory remarks” against former Prime Ministers.
The resolution further states that Birla “is no longer exercising the impartiality necessary to maintain the confidence of all parties in the House. It says his partisan attitude is undermining the rights of members and weakening the mechanisms meant to protect these rights.” The motion alleges that Birla “openly sides with the ruling party on all controversial matters,” which, according to the opposition, poses a serious threat to the smooth functioning of the House and the effective voicing of public concerns and grievances. Therefore, it proposes his removal from office.
According to the Constitution, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha may be present in the House during the consideration of such a notice. He may express his views on the motion and vote, but he cannot preside over the proceedings while the matter is being discussed. While the rules regarding his seating in the House during this time are unclear, he may likely sit in the front rows of the ruling party benches.
On Saturday, ahead of March 9, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Speaker Om Birla. PM Modi said, “Birla ji is a brilliant a Member of Parliament as he is a Speaker of the Lok Sabha. It is a result of coming from the city of education that he takes everyone along in the House like a good leader. He transcends party lines and holds all MPs in high regard. He manages all the MPs in the House well and respects their feelings. However, there is a Speaker who has the utmost respect for MPs. Sometimes some arrogant, unruly students from high-profile families come in and they do not give up their hooliganism. Yet he manages everyone like the head of the House, does not insult anyone, endures everyone’s harsh words, and always smiles—a sweet smile always on his face. Perhaps that is why he is so loved in the House.”
Additionally, the BJP is expected to demand action regarding Rahul Gandhi’s membership during this session, by taking up BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s substantive motion. During the first phase of the Budget Session, Nishikant Dubey alleged in the House that Rahul Gandhi made incoherent remarks in Parliament, undermined the morale of the armed forces and attacked constitutional institutions such as the Speaker and the Election Commission.
He further alleged that Rahul Gandhi violated parliamentary rules by referring to an unpublished book and was asked to confirm it. Dubey said the action was taken under Rules 352 and 353, citing an attempt to disrupt the proceedings of the House and affect the security of the country. If this substantive motion is accepted and passed, Rahul Gandhi’s Lok Sabha membership could be in jeopardy.
