The recent no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla by opposition parties has sparked significant debate and raised questions about parliamentary conduct. On Tuesday, a coalition of opposition leaders escalated their ongoing conflict with the government by officially submitting this notice, which has reportedly collected the signatures of over 100 Members of Parliament (MPs). Gaurav Gogoi, a Congress MP, stated, "We submitted the notice for a no-confidence motion against the Lok Sabha Speaker at 1:14 PM today under Rule 94C of the parliamentary procedures." According to sources from Congress, a total of 118 MPs have endorsed this motion, highlighting widespread discontent within the opposition ranks.
The crux of the opposition’s argument is encapsulated in their assertion that the Speaker has been operating in a "blatantly partisan manner," which they claim undermines the integrity of parliamentary proceedings. The opposition expressed their frustration by stating, "We are deeply concerned about how the Speaker has consistently barred opposition MPs from discussing issues that matter to the public." This no-confidence motion is grounded in Article 94(c) of the Constitution, which stipulates that the Speaker can be removed from office through a resolution passed by the Lok Sabha, contingent upon a mandatory 14-day notice period.
This move comes after extensive discussions among the leaders of the INDIA alliance, particularly in light of the frequent disruptions witnessed in the House. The grievances outlined by the opposition include the denial of speaking opportunities for the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, suspensions of opposition members, and the apparent lack of action taken against BJP MP Nishikant Dubey regarding his controversial comments.
Opposition leaders have also voiced their objections to insinuations that women MPs could pose a threat to the Prime Minister, which adds another layer of tension to the situation. Senior Congress figure K C Venugopal has criticized the current state of affairs, asserting that, "According to parliamentary rules, the Leader of Opposition functions as a shadow Prime Minister. Yet here, the LoP is not permitted to express his views in the House. The government can make any claims and attack anyone without consequence." He went on to accuse the Speaker of bias, saying, "The Speaker himself has leveled accusations against Congress women MPs, but there is no space for the opposition to voice their concerns in this House. This kind of treatment towards the opposition has never been witnessed before... Just wait for our response."
He further pointed out the significance of trade discussions with the United States, noting, "The US-India trade deal was somewhat shocking, and the Leader of Opposition attempted to raise points about it with the Speaker but was denied that opportunity. It appears the government wishes to monopolize parliamentary discourse for its own interests."
The decision to pursue this no-confidence motion was the result of meetings involving leaders from the INDIA bloc, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. Initially, there were suggestions to submit a formal letter of grievances to the Speaker before taking such a drastic step. However, sources indicate that another meeting took place on Tuesday morning to finalize the timing of the motion.
In contrast, the government has downplayed the significance of these developments. Kiren Rijiju, the minister of parliamentary affairs, remarked that the opposition lacks the necessary numbers to successfully pass the resolution. The backdrop to this no-confidence motion is a prolonged standoff in the Lok Sabha, characterized by repeated adjournments following protests from opposition members who have been denied speaking time during critical debates, including discussions surrounding the Motion of Thanks in response to the President’s Address.
