Opposition moves to remove Speaker
Parliament is likely to witness a confrontation as the Opposition is considering moving a resolution to remove Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla from office for disallowing Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi from speaking in the House on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address.
The likely resolution is being moved under Article 94-C of the Constitution. The notice is being given for moving a resolution against the Speaker for his removal, for disallowing the LoP from speaking in the House on the motion of thanks, for not initiating action against BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, for making unsubstantiated charges against women MPs of the Congress and suspension of eight opposition MPs, the sources said on Monday.
Separately, women Congress MPs have written to Speaker Om Birla over the “unsubstantiated allegations” made by him against Congress women MPs. In a letter signed by several women MPs, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, they have objected to the “baseless allegations against women members of Parliament and the denial of Opposition’s Parliamentary rights.”
In their letter, the women MPs of the Congress in the Lok Sabha said, clearly pressured by the ruling party to defend the “non-appearance of the Prime Minister”, Birla issued a statement making grave allegations against the women MPs of the party.
As regards the resolution to remove the Speaker, sources said it would soon be moved in the Lok Sabha and signatures of MPs are being procured.The resolution is likely to have signatures of 100 MPs in the Lok Sabha, and getting the signatures of various Opposition MPs is in process.Sources said the decision to move the resolution was taken at a meeting of Opposition leaders held in the chamber of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday morning.The TMC also attended the meeting, besides other parties, including the left, DMK, SP, RJD, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) and RSP. This will be the fourth such notice against the sitting Speaker of Lok Sabha.
