Delhi: The political temperature in Parliament has risen sharply as Opposition parties are weighing the option of bringing a no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, following repeated disruptions and allegations that the Opposition is being deliberately silenced in the House.
According to political sources, the idea was discussed during a closed-door meeting of floor leaders from the INDIA bloc held within the Parliament complex. Senior Opposition leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, were present during the deliberations. The meeting focused on what the Opposition described as a “systematic denial” of space to raise critical issues in Parliament.
Congress leaders have alleged that Rahul Gandhi was repeatedly prevented from speaking during the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address. They argue that this violates long-standing parliamentary conventions, where the Leader of Opposition is given priority to present alternative viewpoints on behalf of millions of voters.
Congress MP KC Venugopal said the current functioning of the House reflects a worrying trend. He claimed that while ruling party members are free to make sharp political attacks, Opposition voices are being curtailed. He also pointed out that even when the Leader of Opposition sought to raise concerns related to the India–US trade understanding, he was denied permission to speak.
The Opposition has also linked its protest to the suspension of eight MPs for the remainder of the Budget Session. These suspensions followed scenes of disorder in the House, including allegations of papers being thrown towards the Speaker’s chair. Congress leaders insist the punishment is excessive and has effectively weakened Opposition representation during crucial budget discussions.
Tensions further escalated last week when Rahul Gandhi attempted to raise issues related to national security, citing references connected to the 2020 border standoff with China. The Speaker ruled that unpublished material could not be mentioned in the House, leading to further uproar and adjournments.
Adding to the controversy, Speaker Om Birla recently disclosed that he had advised Prime Minister Narendra Modi to avoid attending the House on one occasion, citing intelligence inputs about potential disruption. The statement triggered strong reactions from Opposition parties, who said it reflected a breakdown of trust and neutrality.
