What Led Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to Advise PM Modi to Skip Parliament?
Concerns Over Parliamentary Conduct
New Delhi: On Thursday, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla revealed that he had recommended Prime Minister Narendra Modi to refrain from attending the House due to concerns about potential disorder, following reports of an inappropriate incident that might occur near the Prime Minister's seat.
During his address in the Lok Sabha, Birla expressed his deep disappointment, stating, "It is with great sadness that I must inform the House about the unprecedented behavior exhibited by certain MPs yesterday. Such conduct has never been witnessed in the history of the Lok Sabha. The Speaker's position is one of respect, as outlined in our Constitution. While differing opinions are common in Parliament, this level of behavior is unprecedented."
He further criticized the actions of some Opposition leaders in the Speaker's office, deeming them unsuitable for parliamentary proceedings. "What occurred in the Speaker's office by some Opposition leaders was inappropriate for the functioning of Parliament. I would categorize it as a 'black mark'. We must all contribute to the smooth operation of Parliament," Birla stated.
Addressing the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address, he mentioned receiving alerts that certain Congress MPs might disrupt proceedings when the Leader of the House was set to respond.
"I was informed that a few Congress MPs could engage in inappropriate actions during the Leader of the House's Motion of Thanks on the President's Address. I have witnessed similar disruptions in Parliament before," he noted.
Birla emphasized that if such an incident had occurred, it would have severely undermined the democratic traditions of the nation. "If such an event had transpired, it would have jeopardized the democratic values of our country. Therefore, to prevent such a scenario, I advised the Prime Minister not to attend yesterday's session. As Speaker, it is my duty to uphold the decorum of Parliament," he explained.
In the meantime, the Lok Sabha passed the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address without the usual speech from Prime Minister Modi, as the Opposition continued its protests for the fourth consecutive day during the Budget Session.
This situation is not entirely unprecedented; in 2004, then-Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh was also unable to respond to the Motion of Thanks due to disruptions caused by the Opposition.
Earlier that day, Prime Minister Modi was absent from the Lok Sabha when the Motion of Thanks for the President's address to both Houses of Parliament on January 28 was approved.
As the Opposition members chanted slogans, the Speaker adjourned the session until 2:00 p.m.
Some Opposition MPs entered the Well of the House, brandishing posters featuring the Prime Minister's image with the slogan "Narendra-Surrender" prominently displayed.