File photo: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla
New Delhi: A resolution seeking cancellation About Birla The Speaker was defeated in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday in a voice vote amid protests and slogans from opposition members demanding an apology from the Union Home Minister Amit Shah.As Speaker Birla was absent from the debate, BJP MP Jagdambikar Pal, who chaired the debate, announced that the no-confidence motion after the vote had been rejected.Opposition members continued to protest in the House, prompting Pal to urge them to return to their seats so the motion could be put to a vote. He took a voice vote before the resolution was declared dead and the House adjourned as protests continued.
Amit Shah criticizes opposition’s motion
Earlier, Shah had strongly criticized the opposition for moving a motion against the Speaker, saying such a situation was rare in the history of Parliament.“This is not an ordinary thing as after nearly four decades, such a motion has been moved against the Speaker,” Shah said, according to the Press Trust of India.He said it was unfortunate for parliamentary politics that the opposition parties were questioning the integrity of the Speaker.“As per the established history of the House, its proceedings are conducted on the basis of mutual trust. The Speaker is the guardian of neutrality and represents the ruling and opposition parties,” Shah said.He added that the House would operate according to its rules, not those of any political party.“The House will be governed by its own rules and not by the rules of political parties,” Shah said.
Opposition protests disrupt proceedings
During Shah’s speech, opposition members objected to certain remarks and began chanting slogans demanding an apology from the interior minister.The protests disrupted proceedings in the House of Representatives and continued as the motion was put to a vote.Shah also said that the BJP has been in opposition for a long time but has never moved a no-confidence motion against the Speaker.He said such motions had been tabled only a few times in the history of the Indian Parliament.“This is a regrettable incident for parliamentary politics and the House. Since the Speaker does not belong to any political party, the Speaker belongs to the House,” Shah said.He added that questioning the speaker’s integrity amounted to casting doubt on the democratic process.
