Why Did Congress Move a Motion Against Speaker Om Birla? Rijiju Fires Back

In Shorts

• Kiren Rijiju criticised Congress for bringing a no confidence motion against Speaker Om Birla.
• Opposition MPs alleged the Speaker showed bias and limited opportunities for them to speak.
• The government defended Birla, calling the move politically motivated and likely to fail.

A heated political exchange unfolded in Parliament after the opposition introduced a no confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju sharply criticised the Congress party, accusing it of targeting an impartial constitutional authority without valid grounds.

Speaking ahead of the debate, Rijiju said the Speaker had always conducted proceedings fairly and had given ample opportunity to opposition members to voice their views in the House. He described the motion as unnecessary and politically motivated, warning that the Congress would eventually regret the decision.

The controversy emerged after several opposition MPs, led by members of the Indian National Congress, submitted a resolution seeking the removal of Birla from the Speaker’s post. Around 118 MPs reportedly signed the notice, alleging that the Speaker displayed partisan behaviour and restricted opposition voices during parliamentary proceedings.

According to opposition leaders, the motion was intended to send a strong message about what they describe as shrinking democratic space in Parliament. They argued that the Speaker should maintain strict neutrality while presiding over debates and disciplinary actions in the House.

Rijiju, however, rejected these allegations and defended Birla’s conduct. He said the motion had been introduced without any solid reason and was meant only to satisfy political interests. The minister also asserted that the ruling party was fully prepared to respond during the parliamentary debate and predicted that the motion would ultimately be defeated.

The issue has intensified tensions between the government and the opposition during the ongoing budget session. The debate also saw sharp exchanges between lawmakers from both sides, highlighting the deepening political divide in Parliament.

As discussions continue in the Lok Sabha, the outcome of the motion is expected to test the strength of the opposition’s challenge as well as the ruling coalition’s majority in the House.