Amit Shah defends speaker Om Birla, criticizes Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha debate

Union home minister Amit Shah on Wednesday strongly defended Speaker Om Birla against the Opposition's motion of removal, asserting that the Speaker is a neutral custodian of the House and Parliament cannot run by "the rules of a party". Shah also took a swipe at leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of frequently remaining absent during crucial debates.

Intervening in the debate on the Opposition's resolution seeking Birla's removal in the Lok Sabha, Shah termed the motion an "extraordinary and regrettable" development, noting that such a step has been taken after nearly four decades. Calling the move an attack on parliamentary conventions, Shah said questioning the Speaker's integrity amounts to casting doubt on the functioning of India's democratic institutions. "The proceedings of this House run on mutual trust. The Speaker represents both the treasury benches and the Opposition and serves as the neutral custodian of the House," he said.

Shah pointed out that despite spending long years in the Opposition, BJP never moved a motion against a Speaker. "In the established history of this House, BJP never brought such a motion even when it was in Opposition for decades," he said, accusing Opposition parties of undermining parliamentary traditions.


Taking a swipe at Gandhi, Shah said the Congress leader is often missing when Parliament takes up key legislation or major discussions. "Whenever there is an important bill or a serious discussion in the House, he is usually abroad," Shah said, citing several instances to question Gandhi's commitment to parliamentary proceedings.

Sharpening the attack, Shah accused Gandhi of lowering the standards of parliamentary conduct. "Sir, they are talking about conduct. When their supreme leader himself winks, goes and hugs the prime minister, and blows a flying kiss, this shows he is provoking," Shah said, triggering loud protests from Opposition benches.

Opposition members immediately rose to object, accusing the minister of using "unparliamentary language", even as Shah continued his remarks. The home minister emphasised that while members may disagree with a ruling of the chair, it remains binding under parliamentary rules. "We may disagree with the Speaker's decisions, but they cannot be doubted. The House will run according to its rules, not according to the rules of any political party," he said. Shah also reminded the House that only three such motions against a Speaker have been introduced in India's parliamentary history and neither BJP nor NDA had ever initiated one.

Highlighting the institutional role of Parliament, Shah said the two Houses have strengthened India's democratic foundations over the past 75 years, but the Opposition's move had raised a "question mark" over that credibility. "The Speaker belongs to the House, not to any party. To question the integrity of the Speaker is to question the dignity of our democracy."

He defended the chair's authority to expunge unparliamentary remarks from records, stressing that debates in Parliament must adhere strictly to established rules and conventions.