Speaker Birla to Sit Out as Opposition Moves to Remove Him
Speaker Birla to Sit Out as Opposition Moves to Remove Him
Parliamentary tensions rise as Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla steps back amid an Opposition bid for his removal, with footage of MPs near the PM's seat fueling the clash.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will not preside over the House until the Opposition’s notice for a motion seeking his removal is disposed of, a decision taken on moral grounds. The Speaker has directed the Lok Sabha Secretary General to examine and process the notice as per rules. The move comes after opposition parties, led by the Congress, submitted a notice alleging that Birla has been blatantly partisan in managing the House. The Opposition is expected to move a formal resolution to remove Birla from the chair.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju released footage from February 4, claiming that Congress MPs, particularly women, encroached near the Prime Minister’s seat and created a disruptive scene. He asserted that, had BJP MPs not restrained their colleagues, the situation could have become much uglier, and he accused the Congress Party of pride in the conduct he described as degrading. Rijiju’s post also claimed that Congress MPs crossed the bench and approached rows of the Treasury benches, while BJP women MPs were visibly agitated and restrained their own colleagues. The BJP has submitted a petition to the Speaker seeking appropriate action against the Opposition MPs they accuse of bringing disrepute to the Parliament.
In his remarks to reporters, Rijiju added that the BJP’s restraint helped prevent a confrontation, and he underscored that the BJP desires a fair and firm response from the Speaker on how to proceed with the matter. As the Budget Session progresses, the dispute over the Speaker’s impartiality intensifies, with the Opposition pressing for accountability and the ruling party framing the incident as a confrontation provoked by the Opposition. The Day 11 live updates indicate both Houses are continuing discussions on the Union Budget 2026-26, even as the governance uproar dominates headlines.
