Congress Members Support No-Confidence Motion Against Speaker Om Birla
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
New Delhi, March 9 (NationPress) As the Parliament resumed for the second phase of the Budget Session, Congress MPs ramped up their opposition to Om Birla by supporting the Opposition's no-confidence motion against the Speaker. Congress MP Mallu Ravi stated that this motion was introduced due to the repeated obstruction of Opposition members from voicing their concerns during sessions.
Ravi commented, “We are bringing forth a resolution to remove the Speaker because he is not allowing the Leader of Opposition to express his views. This restriction extends to other leaders from the Opposition as well. The primary duty of Parliament is to engage in meaningful debate...” he relayed to IANS.
Another Congress figure, Sukhdeo Bhagat, echoed these sentiments, criticizing the Chair's operations and stressing that the Speaker must maintain neutrality as dictated by constitutional mandates.
“The Speaker does not represent any political party. The Chair must remain impartial and adhere to the Constitution. Any favoritism towards the ruling government undermines fairness. While we recognize that majority holds significance in a democracy, ongoing feelings of suppression and the silencing of our voices, including Rahul Gandhi's mic being turned off during sessions, are unjust,” Bhagat remarked.
Previously, the Opposition had formally submitted a notice for the no-confidence motion against Birla on February 10, which reportedly garnered the signatures of 118 Members of Parliament. This motion was prompted after the Speaker denied the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, the opportunity to reference or discuss former Indian Army chief M. M. Naravane’s unpublished memoir during parliamentary discourse.
The no-confidence motion is anticipated to be addressed during the current phase of the Budget Session, which has recommenced and is expected to see vigorous political discussions between the government and the Opposition.
In addition to the parliamentary conduct dispute, a variety of significant national and international topics are set to be debated in the House, including the ongoing West Asia crisis, India–US trade relations, and broader issues regarding parliamentary functionality.
The latter part of the session is scheduled to continue until April 2, focusing on critical legislative matters. Among the key agenda items are the passage of the Finance Bill, 2026, and deliberations on the Demands for Grants for various ministries, which are essential for the government's financial strategies for the upcoming fiscal year.