Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi addresses the media during the Budget session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Wednesday, March 26, 2025.
| Photo Credit: PTI
Congress Lok Sabha MPs including Deputy Leader of Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi, Congress general secretary, K.C. Venugopal and Congress whip Manickam Tagore and 70 others met Lok Sabha Speaker on Wednesday (March 26, 2025) and raised the issue of the denial of Opportunity to Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in the House.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday asked Mr. Gandhi to follow the rules of procedure that members are expected to observe to uphold the dignity of the House.
It was not immediately clear what was the reason for the Speaker to make the observation.
The Speaker said members are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that upholds the high standards and dignity of the House.
“Several instances have come to my notice where the conduct of members does not conform to the high standards,” the Speaker said.
“In this House, father and daughter, mother and daughter, husband and wife have been members. In this context, I expect the Leader of the Opposition to conduct himself in accordance with Rule 349 that deals with rules to be observed by members in the House,” the Speaker said.
“Especially, it is expected of the Leader of the Opposition to conduct himself as per the rules,” the Speaker said.
A startled Rahul Gandhi got up to speak but Om Birla adjourned the House.
Mr Gandhi spoke to reporters outside and said the House is being run in a “undemocratic manner”. He said an unsubstantiated reference was made regarding him but wasn’t allowed to speak.
(With inputs from PTI)
Published – March 26, 2025 02:02 pm IST