Lok Sabha fails to take up resolution on Birla’s removal as Speaker amid opposition protests
NEW DELHI, March 9: The government is unlikely to accede to the demand of the opposition for a discussion in Parliament on the present crisis in West Asia as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has already briefed both the Houses.
Sources said the government is keen to have the discussion on the no-confidence motion moved against Speaker Om Birla which is now likely to be taken up on Tuesday as protests by the opposition demanding a discussion on West Asia disrupted the proceedings throughout the day on Monday.
There will be no discussion on the situation in West Asia in Parliament as the external affairs minister has already briefed both the Houses, the sources said.
Lok Sabha proceedings were repeatedly adjourned on Monday amid noisy protests over demands for a debate on the situation in West Asia, with the government accusing the opposition benches of not following basic ethics of the House.
As soon as External Affairs Minister Jaishankar rose to make a statement in the Lok Sabha on the “situation in West Asia”, opposition members started raising slogans against the government and demanded a full-fledged discussion on the ongoing crisis in West Asia.
Jagadambika Pal, who was chairing the proceedings, said the questions being raised by the opposition through their placards were being elaborately answered by the government.
He said while a resolution to remove Birla as the Lok Sabha speaker is already on the agenda, the opposition was pushing for a notice for adjournment of the proceedings to discuss West Asia.
Pal wondered how the opposition wants to discuss the two issues on the same day.
After Jaishankar completed his statement, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju accused the opposition of not following ethics of the House.
Rijiju said their notice to remove Birla from office had already been accepted and the government was willing to discuss it but the opposition was disrupting the proceedings.
In the Rajya Sabha, Congress president and Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge demanded a short-duration discussion in the Upper House on the emerging challenges to India’s energy security amid the West Asia conflict.
Kharge made the submission just before the external affairs minister made a suo motu statement on the evolving situation in West Asia.
The Congress and other opposition parties protested against him making the statement, saying a short-duration discussion should precede such a move.
They shouted slogans during Jaishankar’s statement before staging a walkout at the fag end of the statement. Outside the House, opposition MPs, including Congress president Kharge, former party chief Rahul Gandhi and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, protested demanding a discussion on the West Asia conflict and slamming the government for its “silence” on critical issues related to it.
NO-CONFIDENCE AGAINST SPEAKER OM BIRLA TAKES A BACK SEAT
The Lok Sabha on Monday could not take up a notice seeking to move a resolution to remove Speaker Om Birla from office amid disruptions as opposition members demanded a debate on the West Asia situation.
The opposition’s resolution is now likely to be taken up on Tuesday, at noon, soon after the Question Hour.
While the Constitution gives the Speaker the right to defend himself or herself in the House, it is learnt that Union Home Minister Amit Shah would respond to the debate on the resolution against Birla.The opposition has alleged that Birla acted in a “blatantly partisan” manner while conducting the proceedings of the House.The government, meanwhile, is unlikely to accede to the opposition’s demand for a discussion in Parliament on the present crisis in West Asia as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has already briefed both the Houses on Monday.
In the Lok Sabha, the government and the Chair accused the opposition of holding the House proceedings “hostage” to its demands.
The House was adjourned for the day shortly after it reassembled at 3 pm, following an earlier adjournment due to relentless protests by opposition members.
As proceedings resumed, opposition MPs continued raising slogans. Jagadambika Pal, who was chairing the proceedings, urged them to maintain decorum and allow the House to take up the resolution against Birla.
Pal reminded the opposition that the no-confidence resolution against the Speaker was already on the House agenda, and their adjournment notice seeking debate on the West Asia crisis could not be taken up.
He accused the opposition of wasting taxpayers’ money — about Rs 9 crore per day — by holding the House “hostage” to its demands. Pal described the opposition behaviour as “immature and irresponsible”.
He said the government and the Chair were willing to take up the resolution, but the opposition was creating obstacles, even as Birla was not presiding over the House until the no-confidence motion against him was settled.Around 12 noon, as soon as Jaishankar rose to make a statement in the lower house on the “situation in West Asia”, opposition members started raising slogans against the government and demanded a full-fledged discussion on the ongoing crisis in West Asia.
Pal, chairing the proceedings, said the questions being raised by the opposition through their placards were being elaborately answered by the government. (PTI)
