Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha on Tuesday took up the opposition’s resolution on removal of Speaker Om Birla amid a heated debate over who should preside while the House discussed him. Opening the debate, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi accused Birla of partisan behaviour. He said the Speaker made “baseless” allegations against women opposition MPs and repeatedly blocked Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi from raising “critical issues” in the House. As soon as Congress member Mohammad Jawed read out the notice seeking to move the resolution, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi raised a point of order, questioning the decision to allow BJP’s Jagdambika Pal to chair proceedings as he was appointed to the panel of chairpersons by Birla. Congress and TMC MPs also said Pal was not elected by the House, and highlighted that the post of Deputy Speaker has been vacant for last 7 years.Mics are being used to silence MPs: GogoiCongress and TMC MPs also said Pal was not elected by the House, and highlighted that the post of deputy speaker had been vacant for seven years.While TMC MP Saugata Roy said parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju should move a motion to appoint a presiding officer specifically for the purpose, Rijiju said Owaisi’s claim was irrelevant as Pal was competent to preside over LS proceedings when the resolution was taken up.Pal then put to vote the notice to move the resolution and asked at least 50 MPs to stand up in its support. The notice was then accepted and Jawed read out the resolution, which was admitted for discussion.Gaurav Gogoi raised questions over the manner in which Birla presided over the House when Rahul had to speak on the motion of thanks to the President’s address. “There was an expectation that the Chair would be neutral. But research of uncorrected versions would show the number of times the LoP was interrupted. While the LoP was on his feet, another member was called upon,” Gogoi added.“Is this parliamentary tradition we want to show? Microphones are being used to silence MPs. It stands in direct contradiction with the rituals of this House,” Gogoi said, pointing out how Shas-hi Tharoor’s mic was allegedly switched off in the middle of his speech on Feb 9.“When the LoP wanted to speak on the motion of thanks, he was interrupted 20 times by the Speaker, me-mbers of the chairpersons’ panel and senior MPs of the treasury benches… in a premeditated manner,” he said.
