In a significant move following a stalemate in the Lok Sabha, the Opposition on Monday decided to move a resolution to remove Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla from office.
Sources said the resolution, being moved under Article 94-C of the Constitution, was after Birla disallowed the LoP from speaking in the House on the Motion of Thanks, for not initiating action against BJP MP Nishikand Dubey and for making unsubstantiated charges against women MPs of the Congress. The resolution requires signatures of 100 MPs.
Sources said the decision 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.
Earlier, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, claimed that he had been given a personal assurance that he would be allowed to raise certain issues on the floor before the budget discussion begins. He alleged that the assurance was being withdrawn by the chair. "The Speaker committed, personally committed to us, that I would be allowed to speak here before the budget discussion. Now you are going back on your word. I would like to know whether I would be allowed to speak those points or not," Gandhi said while addressing MP Sandhya Ray, who was presiding over the proceedings in the absence of Om Birla.
Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju, however, disputed Gandhi’s claim, saying no such assurance had been given. Rijiju said the issue had been discussed in a meeting with Om Birla, which was also attended by Congress MP KC Venugopal. "If they accuse the Speaker of something, then there will be a reply by the Speaker too. What Rahul Gandhi said is 100 per cent false, speaker has not said that," Rijiju told the House.
MP Sandhya Ray, who was presiding over the proceedings, said she had not received any notice regarding the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha seeking to raise any issue, and that without following due procedure, the House could not take up a discussion.
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