Amidst huge uproar, no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker rejected by voice vote, House proceedings adjourned

There was a long discussion in the Lok Sabha on the no-confidence motion against Speaker Om Birla by the opposition. Today Home Minister Amit Shah termed this proposal as unfortunate and attacked the opposition and Rahul Gandhi, saying that it is a regrettable proposal for the democratic structure of the country which has been brought against a speaker after 4 decades.

Home Minister Amit Shah, while targeting the opposition for bringing a resolution against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, on Wednesday said that the opposition parties have raised questions on the integrity of Birla, which is very regrettable. While replying to the discussion on the opposition’s resolution in the House, he also said that no one has the right to speak contrary to the rules. Shah said that Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi claims that he is not allowed to speak in the House, while “he himself does not want to speak”.

Referring to the bills brought by the government in the last few years, he said that the Leader of Opposition did not participate in the discussion on the bills. He claimed that he (Rahul) was on a trip to Germany during the winter session last year. Shah said, “Whenever there is an important session, he tours abroad. How will you speak when you are abroad? There is no provision for video conferencing here. If there was such a provision, we would have given them a chance to speak.

He said, “When the opposition raises questions on the integrity of the Speaker, it is very unfortunate and also condemnable. This is a very regrettable incident in the discharge of our tradition, high traditions.” Shah said, ”There can be disagreement on the decision of the Lok Sabha Speaker, but his decision is final.” He said that the opposition has questioned the integrity of the Lok Sabha Speaker.

The Home Minister said, “When the integrity of the Speaker of the House is questioned, the credibility of India’s democratic process in the world is questioned.” Shah said that in the last phase of the budget session, such an atmosphere was created in the Lok Sabha Speaker’s chamber that there was concern for the Speaker’s safety.

He said that if someone speaks against the rules of the House, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha has the right to stop and expel him. He said, “For 75 years, these two Houses have made the foundation of our democracy deeper than hell, but today the opposition has put a question mark on this credibility.”

The House runs on mutual trust. The Speaker of the House is the guardian for both the party and the opposition. That’s why rules have been made. This house is not a fair. Here one has to follow the rules.” The Home Minister emphasized that no one, no matter who he is, has the right to speak in a manner which is not permitted by the rules of the House.

Shah said, “We have also been in the opposition, a no-confidence motion was brought against the Lok Sabha Speaker thrice, but the Bharatiya Janata Party and the NDA never brought a no-confidence motion against the Lok Sabha Speaker while being in the opposition. We have done the work of preserving the dignity of the post of the Speaker.” He said, ”Someone’s advisors may be social workers, someone’s advisors may be agitators, but the movement and the workers will have to follow its rules in the House, because the rules have been made here.” Shah said, ”Those who live in the clutches of privilege are not protected by their party and even the public… that is why they are becoming smaller.