Chaos in Lok Sabha: Opposition May Move No-Confidence Motion Against Speaker Om Birla

New Delhi: Tensions between the government and the opposition escalated further during the Budget Session of Parliament on Monday, as continuous disruptions in the Lok Sabha threatened normal proceedings. Reports indicate that the opposition is considering moving a no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla if its leader, Rahul Gandhi, is denied the opportunity to speak in the House.

Opposition meets before proceedings

A meeting of opposition parties was held before the start of Monday’s proceedings. According to sources, the opposition decided that if Rahul Gandhi is not allowed to address the House, they would initiate a no-confidence motion against the Speaker. The Congress has repeatedly highlighted the stalemate over Rahul Gandhi’s right to speak, stating that proceedings cannot function smoothly unless he is allowed to participate.

Proceedings descend into uproar

As soon as the House convened, Congress members began protesting. Due to the disruption, the Question Hour could not be conducted, and the session was adjourned at 12 noon, just five minutes after it began. The Speaker started the session by congratulating the Indian Under-19 Cricket World Cup-winning team, and members applauded the team.

When the Speaker attempted to begin Question Hour, Congress MPs demanded that Rahul Gandhi be allowed to speak. Om Birla responded that only questions are allowed during Question Hour, and no member can raise other matters at that time. He urged the protesting MPs to allow proceedings to continue, assuring them that all members would get their allocated time during the budget debate.

Despite this, Congress MPs approached the podium and began chanting slogans. The uproar persisted, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the session until 12 PM. Even after the session resumed, disruptions continued, and the Speaker suspended proceedings again until 2 PM.

Opposition’s grievances

Congress MP K.C. Venugopal criticized the Speaker, stating, “The leader of the opposition is not being allowed to speak. The government can say anything and attack anyone. The Speaker is even targeting women MPs of the Congress, but there is no space for the opposition to voice concerns in this House. Such treatment towards the opposition has never been witnessed before.”

The standoff highlights growing friction between the ruling party and opposition, raising concerns over parliamentary decorum as the Budget Session progresses.