Interference in Parliamentary panels, LoP not allowed to talk: Opposition MPs meet Birla over 'disturbing trends'

The meeting of MPs with Birla came a day after the Speaker asked Rahul Gandhi to follow rules of procedure to uphold dignity of the House.

New Delhi: Opposition I.N.D.I.A. bloc on Thursday petitioned Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla pointing fingers at the Modi government over “certain disturbing trends” of disregard for Parliamentary procedures, including “not allowing” the Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to speak, failure to elect a Deputy Speaker since 2019 and “interference” in Parliamentary committees.

The parties, including Congress, Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, DMK, Shiv Sena (UBT), Muslim League, RLP, CPI(M), CPI, MDMK and Kerala Congress, met Birla raising 12 points, which also included exclusion of key ministries from discussion on Demands for Grants and alleged switching off microphones of Opposition MPs while raising Points of Order.

They also raised concerns over the “interference” of the Speaker’s Office in Parliamentary Standing Committee “compromising its autonomy” by “suggesting corrections” in committee reports, the “pattern” of Sansad TV not showing Opposition MPs by changing and Opposition not being consulted on choosing chairmanship of panels.

The meeting came a day after Birla asked Rahul to follow the rules of procedure to uphold the dignity of the House with the Congress leader saying he was not being given a chance to speak in Parliament that is being run in a “non-democratic style”.

While refusing to spell out what happened during their meeting, Congress Deputy Leader Gaurav Gogoi told reporters that the BJP politicised an observation by the Speaker on the LoP but without providing the specific context.

Gogoi was referring to a video posted by BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya on social media, which claimed that the Speaker's observations were linked to Rahul’s show of affection towards his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in the House.

Congress Whip Manickam Tagore said the I.N.D.I.A. MPs expressed their “pain” over Rahul being “denied a chance to speak in the House and that opposition MPs are treated badly by the government...We have also raised how Malviya and the BJP IT Cell are exploiting the Speaker's remarks”.

In their letter to Birla, the Opposition MPs demanded election of Deputy Speaker, saying the Constitution mandates it. With the post of Deputy Speaker not filled since 2019, they said it has set a “dangerous precedent”, affecting the neutrality and functioning of the House.

Sources said the Opposition claimed that the convention of allowing the LoP has been “disregarded repeatedly” and it breaks from past Parliamentary practices and diminishes the space for healthy debate in the House.

The parties also found fault with the government "unilaterally" introducing business without prior consultation in the Business Advisory Committee, citing the example of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement on Maha Kumbh in Lok Sabha last week, saying it was made “without prior scheduling or intimation”.

It also raised concern over “switching off microphones” of Opposition MPs raising Point of Order while NDA MPs are “freely allowed to speak” as well as on “neglect” and rejection of adjournment motions. Similarly Private Members' Bills and Resolutions are not given sufficient time, it said.

The Opposition were also upset about key ministries not being chosen for discussion during the Session. They wanted a discussion on either the Ministry of Defence or Ministry of External Affairs to be included in the list for discussion but it was not accepted.

The government not agreeing to discussions under Rule 193 which does not entail voting was also flagged by the Opposition.

“These developments are “deeply concerning” and “warrant immediate corrective measures to uphold the integrity of our Parliamentary democracy. We urge you to restore fairness, transparency and adherence to established Parliamentary norms,” he said.