In a fiery session marking the second week of Parliament's proceedings, Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP and Leader of Opposition, repeatedly questioned Speaker Om Birla's actions, alleging preferential treatment towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Rahul Gandhi, speaking during the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address in Lok Sabha, emphasized the Speaker's pivotal role, stating, "You are the final arbitror of the Lok Sabha, you are the final word here." He pointedly remarked on the Speaker's conduct during interactions with different leaders, notably comparing his posture when greeting Modi versus himself.
"When I shook your hand, you stood straight and shook my hand. When Modi ji shook your hand, you bowed down and shook his hand," Gandhi asserted, referencing an earlier occasion during the Speaker's election to the 18th Lok Sabha. This remark sparked uproar in the house, prompting Union Home Minister Amit Shah to intervene, describing it as an "allegation on the Chair." Speaker Om Birla defended his actions, citing cultural norms of respecting elders. "Prime Minister is the Leader of House. My culture and traditions say, in personal as well as public life, and on this seat, I should bow to those who are elders," Birla explained.
Responding with respect to the Speaker's explanation, Gandhi reaffirmed the Speaker's authority in the house, stating, "No one is bigger than the Speaker in this House and everyone should bow to him." He acknowledged the Speaker as the custodian and the "last word" in the Lok Sabha's proceedings. During his speech, Gandhi also critiqued the government's handling of issues such as NEET, Agniveer, and Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers. He further criticized the BJP and RSS, asserting, "BJP and RSS do not represent all the Hindus? We are also Hindus."
The session concluded with Gandhi stressing the importance of fairness and respect for parliamentary norms, underscoring the role of the Speaker as a neutral authority. The ongoing debate highlights tensions between the ruling party and the opposition in the current parliamentary session.
