New Delhi: A delegation of INDIA bloc parties Thursday submitted a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla raising concerns over the government’s “increasing disregard” for parliamentary procedures and democratic norms, citing issues such as the post of deputy speaker lying vacant and the Leader of the Opposition being denied opportunities to speak.
The move comes a day after Birla abruptly adjourned proceedings of the Lok Sabha after reminding members, and particularly LoP Rahul Gandhi, of the need to uphold the standards and dignity of the House. Birla did so without pointing out any specific instance of violation.
However, BJP leader Amit Malviya, who’s in charge of the party’s Information and Technology cell, posted on X a clip showing Rahul cupping his sister and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s cheeks in the House, suggesting that this act triggered Birla’s admonition.
It is disgraceful that the Lok Sabha Speaker has to remind Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition, about basic parliamentary decorum. The fact that Congress has imposed this puerile man upon us is truly unfortunate. pic.twitter.com/B8BKoFgYWt
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) March 26, 2025
“It is disgraceful that the Lok Sabha Speaker has to remind Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition, about basic parliamentary decorum. The fact that Congress has imposed this puerile man upon us is truly unfortunate,” Malviya posted, along with the video clip.
On Thursday, after submitting the letter to Birla, Congress’s Lok Sabha Deputy Leader Gaurav Gogoi said the BJP was “politicising” Birla’s remarks, even as the Speaker himself has not yet clarified what he was referring to.
“The LoP was not allowed to speak despite his name being taken in the House. There was no clarity on what incident the Speaker was referring to but the BJP IT cell is politicising the issue,” Gogoi told reporters.
In their letter, the opposition MPs underlined that certain “disturbing trends” have emerged, which undermine the sanctity of Parliament.
“We write to you with grave concern regarding the increasing disregard for parliamentary procedures and established democratic norms by the current Government inside the Parliament. A well-functioning democracy requires the smooth operation of Parliament, where all members, irrespective of party affiliation, are given equal opportunity to debate, deliberate, and discharge their constitutional duties,” they wrote to Birla.
The “denial of speaking opportunity” to the LoP is also among the points flagged by the INDIA bloc in the letter.
“The convention of allowing the LoP to speak when they stand up has been disregarded repeatedly. This breaks from past parliamentary practices and diminishes the space for healthy debate in the House…It has become a pattern that whenever opposition floor leaders and MPs speak, the Sansad TV camera changes its angle and does not show the floor leaders and MPs,” it states.
Apart from the Congress, the SP, NCP-SP, Shiv Sena (UBT), TMC, DMK, Kerala Congress, RJD, IUML, RLP, RSP and MDMK MPs signed the letter, in which several other points including microphones of opposition leaders and MPs being switched off in the House, and “disregard” for Business Advisory Committee (BAC) decisions were highlighted.
“The government has been unilaterally introducing business in the House without consulting or informing the BAC. For instance, the Prime Minister’s statement in the House last week was made without prior scheduling or intimation,” the letter said.
The letter also alleged that important ministries were being left out of discussions on budget allocations, reducing parliamentary oversight over financial decisions. It also levelled a direct allegation against the Speaker that his office “has intervened, suggesting corrections in Parliamentary Standing Committee reports, which compromises their autonomy”.
“These developments are deeply concerning and warrant immediate corrective measures to uphold the integrity of our parliamentary democracy,” the MPs added. Birla’s office has not yet responded to the allegations.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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