Kiren Rijiju Urges Rahul Gandhi to Adhere to Parliamentary Rules
Rijiju's Response to Rahul Gandhi's Concerns
On Wednesday, Kiren Rijiju, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, emphasized that Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the opposition, must follow parliamentary protocols while speaking in the house. Rijiju stated that he has already responded to Gandhi's letter and clarified that no member can speak arbitrarily in Parliament. Just a day prior, Gandhi had expressed his concerns in a letter to Speaker Om Birla regarding being prevented from discussing national security issues during the debate on the President's address.
Rijiju's Remarks on Parliamentary Conduct
While addressing journalists, Rijiju mentioned, "I have responded to this. We have grown tired of waiting, yet he does not speak. He claims he will speak by violating the rules. We waited for two days, but others should also be allowed to speak. He cannot speak arbitrarily. This is the Parliament of India; you must speak according to the rules."
Opposition's Stand on Speaking Rights
In response, Congress MP Ujjwal Raman Singh asserted that the right to speak in Parliament belongs to the leader of the opposition and every MP. He accused the BJP-led government of deliberately silencing Rahul Gandhi and suppressing the opposition's voice. Singh stated to the media, "It is true. The leader of the opposition and every MP has the right to speak. Since the day Rahul Gandhi has tried to speak, the entire BJP government has been intent on stopping him... This is how the BJP's history has been written. In the past, they have run the house by suspending MPs. If they want to run a house without opposition, let them. If they wish to suppress the voice of the opposition, we will never tolerate it."
Parliamentary Disruptions Amid Budget Session
On Wednesday, the Lok Sabha was adjourned amid loud protests from opposition members against the suspension of eight opposition MPs during the budget session. While discussing the India-US trade agreement with the media, Gandhi reiterated these accusations. The suspended MPs included Congress members Hibi Eden, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Manickam Tagore, Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Prashant Yedav, Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy, and Dean Kuriakose, along with CPI(M) MP S. Venkatesan.