Union Home Minister Amit Shah strongly defended Om Birla in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday during a heated debate on the opposition’s motion seeking the Speaker’s removal. Shah criticised the move, arguing that such actions undermine parliamentary traditions and damage the credibility of democratic institutions.

The opposition had accused the Speaker of favouring the ruling side during parliamentary proceedings. However, Shah rejected the allegations and said the office of the Speaker stands above party politics and represents the entire House.

“Speaker Does Not Belong to Any Party”

During his speech, Shah emphasised that the Speaker functions as a neutral authority responsible for protecting the rights of all Members of Parliament.

He said the Speaker’s position is meant to ensure the smooth functioning of the House and safeguard parliamentary dignity.

“The Speaker does not belong to any party; the Speaker belongs to the entire House. The Speaker is the protector of the rights of all Parliamentarians,” Shah said during the debate.

‘Motion After Four Decades Is Unfortunate’

The Home Minister also highlighted that such a motion against a Speaker is extremely rare in India’s parliamentary history. According to him, bringing a no-confidence motion against the Speaker after nearly four decades is an unusual step.

Shah said the move should not be treated as a routine political disagreement and described it as a troubling development for parliamentary politics.

“After nearly four decades, a no-confidence motion has been brought against the Speaker. This is not ordinary and is unfortunate for parliamentary politics,” he said.

Shah Reminds Opposition of Earlier Support for Birla

Shah also pointed out that when Om Birla was elected Speaker, members from both the ruling party and the opposition had accompanied him to the Chair in a gesture of consensus.

Questioning the opposition’s current stance, Shah said it was contradictory for the same parties to now question Birla’s conduct after earlier supporting his appointment.

“India’s Democratic Image Could Be Harmed”

The Home Minister warned that such controversies could harm the global reputation of India’s parliamentary system.

He said India’s democracy is respected around the world and unnecessary disputes over the Speaker’s role could cast doubts on the functioning of the country’s democratic institutions.

“When the Speaker was elected, members from both sides accompanied him to the Chair, but today his conduct is being questioned. India’s democracy is respected across the world, and such motions can tarnish that image,” Shah said.

Shah Targets Rahul Gandhi Over Attendance

During the debate, Shah also launched a sharp attack on Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi. He accused the Congress leader of frequently travelling abroad during important parliamentary sessions and later claiming he was not allowed to speak in the House.

Shah cited Rahul Gandhi’s attendance record in previous Lok Sabhas, claiming it was significantly lower than the national average.

According to Shah, Gandhi’s attendance was 51 percent in the 17th Lok Sabha compared to the national average of 66 percent. In the 16th Lok Sabha, he said Gandhi’s attendance was 52 percent against a national average of 80 percent. During the 15th Lok Sabha, Shah claimed Gandhi attended only 43 percent of the sessions while the national average was 76 percent.

“Lok Sabha Is Not a Platform for Press Conferences”

Shah also criticised Rahul Gandhi for demanding a debate in Parliament based on remarks made during a press conference.

He said the Lok Sabha is not a platform to discuss individual press briefings and defended Speaker Om Birla’s decision not to allow such a discussion.

According to Shah, allowing debates based on personal press conferences would lower the standards of parliamentary functioning.

“Motion Is About Speaker, Not Rahul Gandhi”

In his closing remarks, Shah said the debate should focus on the conduct of the Speaker rather than the behaviour of Rahul Gandhi.

He added that the purpose of the no-confidence motion was to examine the Speaker’s actions and not to discuss the personal conduct of individual members.

“The no-confidence motion is to discuss the behaviour and conduct of the Speaker, not to discuss the behaviour and conduct of Rahul Gandhi. You wink, blow kisses,” Shah said during the fiery exchange in the House.