Parliament’s Budget Session, already a tinderbox of protests, ignited further with opposition MPs serving a no-confidence notice against Speaker Om Birla. Backed by 118 signatures, the Rule 94(C) motion led by Gaurav Gogoi accuses Birla of skewing proceedings to favor the treasury benches, invoking removal powers under Article 94(C).
Detailed allegations span recent days: Rahul Gandhi’s interrupted address on the President’s speech on February 2; punitive suspensions of eight MPs on February 3; tolerance of a BJP member’s derogatory jabs at two former PMs on February 4; and Birla’s contentious February 5 statement post-Motion of Thanks, labeling opposition antics as historic lows and claiming he shielded the PM from unrest.
The notice argues this breaches the Speaker’s duty to uphold rules and decorum, turning the House into a partisan arena. While acknowledging Birla’s personal stature, signatories express anguish over suppressed debates on public woes. This audacious step tests parliamentary norms, potentially forcing a debate on Speaker neutrality amid ruling party dominance. As tensions simmer, it highlights the opposition’s fight to reclaim space in a polarized legislature.