Lok Sabha adjourned amid standoff over Rahul Gandhi’s demand to speak before budget debate

New Delhi: Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day on Monday amid a standoff between the government and the Opposition over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's demand that he be allowed to speak before budget debate begins.

When the House met at 2 pm after two adjournments, Sandhya Ray, who was in the chair, asked Congress MP Shashi Tharoor to initiate the debate on the budget. Tharoor told the chair that Gandhi, being LoP, should be allowed to raise points before he starts his speech. Ray said she had no issue if LoP wanted to speak on budget and asked him to begin.

Gandhi said at a meeting between Speaker Om Birla and some Opposition MPs, an agreement was reached that he would be allowed to raise certain points before the budget debate, but the chair was now reneging on its word. Ray said she was not aware of any deal and she could not allow anyone to raise any issue without notice.


Minister Kiren Rijiju said there was no such deal and if LoP wanted to say anything about the Speaker, then Birla should be present. Rijiju also said other MPs would also speak on the subject. With neither side budging, Ray adjourned the House for the day.