An opposition parties’ delegation met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday to flag the “denial of opportunity” to Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to speak in the House, as well as the “politicisation” of his asking the Congress leader to follow the rules of procedure.
Congress’s deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi said the INDIA bloc delegation, comprising the Congress, SP, TMC, DMK, Kerala Congress, RJD, IUML, RLP and MDMK, met the speaker during the Zero Hour.
“We have given a letter, which was signed by many parties, including the RSP and Shiv Sena (UBT). We conveyed our collective concern and disappointment to the speaker on how the ruling side is violating the traditions, rules and culture of the House,” Gogoi told reporters after the meeting.
He said the main matter was the context and issue over which Birla made a statement on the LoP on Wednesday.
“He made a reference to Rule 349 and said the members and the LoP must follow this. What specific incident he was referring to was not clear. There was politicisation and propaganda over the speaker’s remarks. We apprised the speaker of how his remarks had been politicised outside,” Gogoi said.
The convention of allowing the LoP to speak when they stand up has been disregarded repeatedly.
