‘No one in Lok Sabha is above rules’: Om Birla returns as chairman after House rejects resolution to oust him

New Delhi: Speaker of Lok Sabha About Birla Trump returned to the chamber on Thursday after the House of Representatives rejected a motion of no confidence in him brought by the opposition, ending two days of intense debate that lasted nearly 12 hours.Speaking on the House floor after a resolution seeking his ouster was defeated by voice vote amid loud slogans from opposition members, Birla said the discussion allowed members of all parties to express their concerns.

“This is the third time in the parliamentary history of independent India that the House is taking up a motion of no confidence in the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. Over the past two days, the honorable members held extensive discussions so that the views, arguments and concerns of all members could be expressed in the House,” Birla said.He pointed out that the Lok Sabha reflects the democratic will of the citizens of the country and that members coming to the House have the responsibility to represent the concerns of the public.

“The House of Representatives represents the sovereign will of 1.4 billion citizens of India. Every member of the House of Representatives here has the mission of hundreds of thousands of citizens and wants to address their problems, poverty and difficulties and fulfill their aspirations and expectations,” the Speaker said.“To this end, I strive to provide adequate opportunities to all members. This august House has given me the responsibility and opportunity to serve as Speaker for a second time. I have always strived to conduct the proceedings of the House in a fair, disciplined, balanced and rule-compliant manner. Together with all members, I strive to maintain order, harmony and efficiency in the functioning of the House while discharging their duties,” he added.Birla also acknowledged the contribution of the previous Speaker in strengthening the traditions of Parliament and said decorum must be maintained.He said: “My predecessors strengthened the dignity and traditions of the House and always enhanced its prestige. The institutions, rituals and traditions remain unchanged. I thank all Members for the trust reposed in me by the House. I assure you that I will regard this trust as my responsibility and will strive to discharge it with complete dedication, impartiality and respect for constitutional propriety.”Responding to Opposition Leader’s Allegations Rahul Gandhi Birla said members were not allowed to speak but were given an opportunity as per parliamentary rules.“As per the rules, every member has a say,” he said, adding that no one was above the rules.The resolution seeking Birla’s ouster was supported by 118 opposition MPs, who accused Birla of bias. During the discussion of the motion, more than 42 members participated in the debate.During the meeting, there were also heated exchanges in the House of Representatives. Union Home Minister Amit Shah accused Congress of spreading “lies” about Indian farmers suffering losses due to the India-US interim trade deal, saying the real setback occurred during the 2013 World Trade Organization negotiations under the Congress-led government.