A no-confidence motion brought by the opposition against Speaker Om Birla was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. The resolution sought the removal of the Speaker for failing to maintain impartiality in House proceedings by taking a biased stance towards the ruling party and for preventing opposition MPs from speaking.
The notice seeking to move a resolution was presented by Congress legislator Mohammad Jawed. Besides Jawed, MPs K Suresh and Mallu Ravi had also moved the resolution.
Just after the notice was read out, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi raised a point of order questioning the decision to allow Jagdambika Pal to chair the proceedings, as he was appointed to the panel of chairpersons by Speaker Birla. BJP's Nishikant Dubey countered the claim, citing constitutional provisions, law and House rules. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said Owaisi's claim was irrelevant as Pal was competent to preside over the Lok Sabha when the resolution was taken up.
Congress' Deputy Leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi commenced the discussion, for which 10 hours have been allocated. Gogoi too raised the question of who should preside over the proceedings when the resolution for the Speaker's removal is being discussed.
Gogoi also levelled serious allegations regarding the absence of the Deputy Speaker in the Lok Sabha, stating that despite the opposition coalition having nearly 200 MPs, a Deputy Speaker has not yet been appointed.
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“The microphone is being used as a weapon in the House. Members of the Treasury Bench (ruling party) are given the opportunity to speak, but opposition members, especially Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, are being denied a microphone. The Leader of the Opposition was not allowed to speak 20 times,” Gogoi said.
Chair Jagadambika Pal dismissed these allegations as mere slander, but Gaurav Gogoi refuted them, saying that these are not mere allegations, but the very motion being discussed. "We take no pleasure in introducing a resolution against the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, but this resolution is being introduced to protect the dignity of the House,” he said.
