New Delhi, March 6 (ANI): As the second phase of the Budget Session of Parliament approaches, three Members of Parliament from the Indian National Congress are preparing to move a resolution in the Lok Sabha seeking the removal of Speaker Om Birla, accusing him of partisan conduct and undermining the rights of opposition members.
The resolution, which has been submitted by Congress MPs Mohammad Jawed, Kodikunnil Suresh, and Mallu Ravi, alleges that the Speaker has failed to maintain the impartiality required of the office. The MPs claim that Birla disallowed Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition, and other opposition leaders from speaking during parliamentary proceedings.
Allegations of Partisan Conduct
According to the notice listed in the Lok Sabha’s official business agenda, the Congress leaders argue that Birla made “unwarranted allegations” against women MPs belonging to opposition parties and suspended opposition lawmakers for raising issues concerning public interest.
The resolution states that while opposition MPs faced suspension for the entire parliamentary session, members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party were not reprimanded for allegedly making derogatory remarks about former prime ministers.
The motion asserts that Birla’s conduct demonstrates a “partisan attitude” and that he has openly supported the government’s version of controversial matters. Congress MPs argue that such actions threaten the proper functioning of the House and undermine the ability of elected representatives to voice public concerns.
Previous No-Confidence Motion
The move follows an earlier no-confidence motion brought against Birla during the first phase of the Budget Session. In response, the Speaker announced that he would temporarily refrain from presiding over the House on moral grounds until the matter was addressed.
Tensions escalated further when Rahul Gandhi attempted to cite passages from an unpublished memoir written by former Army Chief Manoj Mukund Naravane regarding the 2020 India–China standoff in eastern Ladakh. The attempt triggered a heated confrontation in the House.
Subsequently, eight opposition MPs were suspended for the remainder of the session for violating parliamentary rules.
Disruptions During First Phase
The first phase of the Budget Session witnessed repeated adjournments due to uproar and protests from opposition parties. Despite the disruptions, the Lok Sabha passed the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address on February 5 without the customary reply from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Second Phase of Budget Session
Both the BJP and Congress have issued a three-line whip to their MPs, requiring their presence in the House from March 9 to March 11.
The second phase of the Budget Session will begin on March 9 and is scheduled to continue until April 2, during which Parliament is expected to address key legislative matters and financial business.
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