‘One-sided Parliament’ row: Opposition moves no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla

New Delhi witnessed fresh political tension this week as the Opposition prepared to move a no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. The move followed days of heated exchanges in the House. Leaders accused the Speaker of favouring the ruling party. They claimed he denied space to dissenting voices.

First, the conflict intensified last week. Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi tried to quote from former Army Chief M M Naravane’s unpublished memoir. He wanted to raise questions on national security and the 2020 Ladakh standoff. However, the Chair stopped him. The Speaker directed him not to refer to the book. Despite repeated attempts, Gandhi failed to complete his remarks.

As a result, Opposition parties protested. They boycotted proceedings. They entered the Well of the House. Some MPs threw papers near the Speaker’s podium. The disruption forced repeated adjournments. Later, authorities suspended eight MPs for disorderly conduct.

Meanwhile, Opposition leaders held internal meetings. They discussed formal charges against the Speaker. They decided to include these points in the motion. According to sources, leaders cited several reasons. They said the Speaker blocked the Leader of Opposition from speaking. At the same time, he allowed ruling party MPs to make harsh remarks. They also objected to his statements on alleged security threats to the Prime Minister.

Furthermore, leaders raised concerns over comments involving women MPs. They claimed the Speaker suggested some members posed a threat. In response, several women MPs wrote letters seeking clarification. They demanded evidence. They asked for a public explanation.

Next, senior Congress leader K C Venugopal addressed the media. He described the situation as “unfortunate.” He stressed the importance of the Opposition in democracy. He said the Leader of Opposition acts as a shadow Prime Minister. Yet, he alleged that microphones get switched off when Opposition members speak.

Accordingly, Venugopal accused the government of silencing critics. He said Parliament now serves only the ruling side. He added that debates no longer happen freely. Therefore, the Opposition struggles to raise public issues.

At the same time, leaders questioned the Speaker’s neutrality. They argued that his role demands balance. They claimed he now takes sides. They asked whether he supported his allegations with facts. They also reminded that past governments faced disruptions but allowed debate.

Meanwhile, sources confirmed that the INDIA bloc took the decision collectively. Floor leaders met on Monday. Rahul Gandhi and Rajya Sabha Leader Mallikarjun Kharge attended the meeting. After discussions, parties agreed to proceed with the motion.

Subsequently, Gandhi wrote to Speaker Birla. He said he followed instructions to authenticate the magazine report. Still, the Chair blocked him from speaking. He called this a violation of parliamentary convention. He argued that members usually quote verified material.

However, Speaker Om Birla defended his stand. He said frequent disruptions harmed legislative work. He pointed out that the House lost over 19 hours due to protests. He urged members to respect procedures. He reminded them that voters expect debates, not slogans.

Moreover, Birla stated that he wants smooth functioning. He said discipline ensures productivity. He warned that chaos weakens democracy.

Now, the no-confidence motion signals a deeper political clash. It reflects growing mistrust between the Chair and the Opposition. It also highlights rising friction in Parliament.

In the coming days, the House may witness intense debate. The motion will test parliamentary traditions. It will also decide whether dialogue can replace confrontation. For now, the standoff continues.