PM avoided Lok Sabha amid reports of threats: Speaker
In an unprecedented development, the Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address, without the Prime Minister’s customary reply scheduled for Wednesday, which was rescheduled to Thursday. PM Modi could not speak due to the face-off between members of the treasury and Opposition benches for last three days, which intensified on Thursday.
In June 2004, the then PM late Manmohan Singh was present in the Lok Sabha, but did not make a speech as per an understanding reached with the then Opposition BJP and tabled his remarks.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said he had “concrete information” that several Congress MPs including women members might move towards Prime Minister’s seat and carry out “some unexpected act” which led Birla to prompt PM to avoid attending the Lok Sabha for his reply to the discussion on the Motion of Thanks. A similar row by the few Congress women MPs on Wednesday evening when Modi was to speak took place after which his speech was rescheduled for Thursday.
While Birla adjourned the House to save ugly scenes by the Opposition ranks, Congress snubbed the charge and said the PM was scared to speak. After decrying the conduct of the opposition, the Speaker adjourned the proceedings for the day with a warning that the Lok Sabha would not function if members brought banners and posters to the House.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra told reporters in Parliament premises it was an “absolute lie” that there was any plan to hurt Modi. She also alleged that Prime Minister Modi was “hiding behind” the Speaker. The Lok Sabha on Wednesday witnessed dramatic scenes as women MPs from the opposition marched towards the Treasury benches holding banners ahead of the prime minister’s scheduled reply at 5 pm. The Lower House has witnessed disruptions since Monday afternoon, when the Speaker disallowed Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, citing rules, from referring to an unpublished book by former Army Chief M M Naravane.
The Speaker then read out the Motion of Thanks to the President which was passed by a voice vote. Birla thanked PM Modi for acceding to his request and avoiding unpleasant scenes in the Lok Sabha by not coming to the House on Wednesday and again on Thursday.
