New Delhi

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on Om Birla, accusing the Lok Sabha Speaker of partisan conduct and alleging that opposition members were not being allowed to raise critical issues in the House.

Initiating the debate on a resolution seeking Birla’s removal from the Speaker’s post, Gogoi said the opposition was compelled to bring the motion to “save the Constitution” and protect the dignity of Parliament.

Questioning the functioning of the House, the Congress deputy leader said the Speaker is expected to remain neutral while presiding over parliamentary proceedings.

Referring to the debate on the motion of thanks to the President’s address on February 2, he alleged that Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi was repeatedly interrupted while speaking.

“There was an expectation that the chair would be neutral. But if one examines the uncorrected transcripts, it would show how many times the LoP was interrupted. While the LoP was on his feet, another member was called upon to speak,” Gogoi said.

He also cited an incident involving Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, claiming that Tharoor’s microphone was switched off during his speech on February 9.

“It is said that the opposition must have its say, but how can we say anything when the microphone is switched off?” Gogoi asked.

The Congress MP from Jorhat in Assam said the Speaker’s role has historically symbolised the dignity and liberty of the nation, recalling remarks by India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

“Where is the freedom of speech now?” he asked.

Gogoi also objected to remarks allegedly made about women MPs of the opposition, saying their intentions were questioned without basis.

He alleged that the Speaker had advised Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to attend the House on one occasion during the motion of thanks debate, citing intelligence inputs that some women MPs might surround the prime minister’s seat.

Calling the allegations baseless, Gogoi said such remarks undermined the dignity of women parliamentarians.

He further alleged that remarks made by opposition members, including those of the Leader of Opposition, were often expunged from the record, while comments from treasury bench members targeting former prime ministers were allowed to remain.

According to Gogoi, the Leader of Opposition was interrupted about 20 times while attempting to speak on issues he wanted to raise during the motion of thanks debate.

Among the issues Gandhi wanted to discuss were remarks reportedly made by former Army chief Manoj Mukund Naravane in his unreleased book, Gogoi said.

At this point, BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, who was presiding over the proceedings, asked Gogoi to focus on the reasons for the resolution seeking Birla’s removal.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju intervened, saying the discussion should remain confined to the Speaker and warned the opposition against raising unrelated issues.

Gogoi responded by claiming that if parliamentary records were examined, Rijiju would be found to have interrupted opposition members the most.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah then remarked that while Rijiju may have interrupted frequently, there had never been an opposition like the current one.

After several interruptions, Gogoi resumed his speech and said Gandhi also wanted to raise issues relating to an ongoing investigation in the United States involving a businessman and alleged references to a minister.

He added that Gandhi had also intended to discuss trade negotiations between India and major global partners, including the European Union and the United States.

Gogoi further questioned why BJP member Jagdambika Pal was presiding over the debate and asked who had decided the chair for the proceedings concerning the resolution against the Speaker.

Despite the criticism, Gogoi said opposition members maintained cordial personal relations with Birla.

“Personally, we all have good relations with him. That is why it saddens us that we have to bring such a resolution,” he said.

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“But it is our responsibility to protect the dignity of the House and save the Constitution. It is to protect the faith of the people in democracy,” Gogoi added.