Opposition Escalates Parliamentary Confrontation with No-Confidence Notice Against Speaker
In a significant escalation of the ongoing parliamentary standoff, opposition parties on Tuesday formally submitted a notice of no-confidence against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. This move intensifies their confrontation with the government over the conduct of proceedings in the lower house of Parliament.
Notice Garners Over 100 Signatures
Sources indicate that the notice has secured the signatures of more than 100 Members of Parliament, demonstrating substantial backing from the opposition benches. According to Article 94(c) of the Indian Constitution, the Speaker can be removed through a resolution passed by the Lok Sabha, which requires a mandatory 14-day notice period before such a motion can be taken up for consideration.
Grievances Cited by the Opposition
The opposition has outlined a series of grievances prompting this drastic step:
- Denial of Speaking Rights: The refusal to allow Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi to address the House during key debates.
- Suspension of Members: The suspension of opposition MPs from parliamentary sessions.
- Alleged Inaction: Claims of inaction against BJP MP Nishikant Dubey for his controversial remarks.
- Objections to Claims: Strong objections to statements suggesting that women MPs posed a threat to the Prime Minister.
Congress Leader Signals Imminent Action
On Monday, senior Congress leader K C Venugopal hinted at impending measures, criticizing the functioning of the Lok Sabha. "As per parliamentary rules, the Leader of Opposition is a shadow Prime Minister. But here, the LoP is not being allowed to speak in the House. The government can say anything and attack anyone," he stated.
Venugopal further alleged bias on the part of the Speaker, remarking, "The Speaker is himself making allegations against the Congress women MPs, but there is no space for the opposition in this House at all and they are not even allowed... This kind of attitude against the opposition never happened before... wait for the action."
He also referenced trade discussions with Washington, adding, "US-India trade deal was somewhat shocking and the Leader of Opposition wants to mention a few things about it to the Speaker, but that was also not allowed. The government wants to preserve the Parliament for itself."
Deliberations Within the INDIA Bloc
The opposition's move followed extensive deliberations among leaders of the INDIA bloc, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. Initially, some parties proposed submitting a formal letter of grievances to the Speaker before resorting to the extreme step of a no-confidence notice. Sources reveal that another meeting was convened on Tuesday morning to finalize the timing of this action.
Government Downplays the Development
In response, the government has sought to minimize the significance of the no-confidence notice. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju asserted that the opposition lacks the necessary numerical strength to pass such a resolution in the Lok Sabha.
Context of Parliamentary Logjam
This no-confidence move unfolds against the backdrop of a prolonged deadlock in the Lok Sabha, marked by repeated adjournments due to protests by opposition members. These disruptions have centered on the denial of speaking opportunities during crucial debates, including the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address, highlighting deep-seated tensions in parliamentary functioning.
