Did Cong MPs Misbehave with Speaker Om Birla?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
New Delhi, Feb 11 (NationPress) Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday asserted that Congress MPs displayed inappropriate behavior towards Speaker Om Birla in his chamber, resorting to abusive language, an act he termed as “unprecedented and never seen before” in parliamentary history.
The shocking revelations from the Union Minister are likely to ignite a new controversy and escalate the ongoing tension between the government and the opposition.
Addressing reporters prior to Wednesday’s session, Kiren Rijiju stated, “Congress parliamentarians, after visiting the Speaker’s chamber, threatened him, misbehaved with him and went to the extent of abusing him.”
Expressing his astonishment at such odd behavior, he noted that the opposition openly flouts the Speaker’s directives within the House and then accuses him of bias.
“I haven’t seen such a precedent before,” he remarked.
The Union Minister further criticized the opposition for repeatedly violating Parliamentary conventions and urged them to adhere to established rules, even when filing a no-confidence motion against the Speaker.
“There is a clear process, and established norms are there for what should and shouldn’t be done in such cases. I don’t have much to say, but I am deeply saddened that the sanctity of the Speaker’s office has been undermined,” he expressed.
Rijiju also took issue with Rahul Gandhi’s “theatrics” in the House, calling on all members to consistently uphold the dignity of Parliament.
He emphasized that any member of the House—be it a Parliamentarian or the Prime Minister—must first seek permission from the Speaker and respect the Chair; however, it appears these Parliamentary norms hold no significance for the Leader of Opposition.
“For Rahul Gandhi, seeking the Chair’s nod is not necessary; rather, he goes on to say that he doesn’t need anyone’s permission to speak in the House. He claims this is my right to speak. Everything is on record,” he informed the media.
The minister concluded by urging the opposition to maintain the decorum and dignity of the House, encouraging everyone to adhere to the rules to preserve the sanctity of Parliamentary proceedings.