New Delhi: The re-election of Om Birla as Lok Sabha Speaker today was marked by a brief moment of unity, quickly overshadowed by controversy and chaos. The incident unfolded when the newly re-elected Speaker called for a two-minute silence to commemorate the "dark days of Emergency," sparking protests from the Opposition and leading to an adjournment of the House.
Initially, the proceedings saw a rare display of cordiality. After Birla's re-election by voice vote, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi congratulated him and shook hands with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two leaders, along with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, then escorted Birla to the Speaker's chair.
Prime Minister Modi praised Birla, saying his "sweet smile keeps the entire House happy." However, Opposition leaders, while congratulating the Speaker, emphasized the importance of allowing the Opposition to speak. Rahul Gandhi stressed, "The question is how much of India's voice is being allowed to be heard."
The situation took a turn when Speaker Birla, addressing the House, called for a two-minute silence to mark the 50th anniversary of the Emergency. This move immediately triggered an uproar from the Opposition benches, resulting in the House's adjournment.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor criticized the Speaker's remarks, calling them "unfortunate" and "divisive." He stated, "This was not necessary. It was 49 years ago. If you have to go to such lengths on a day on which the message was to be one of cooperation and consensus, that's unfortunate."
The election itself was notable as only the third for a Lok Sabha Speaker since Independence. The Congress had forced a contest by fielding eight-time MP K Suresh as a challenger, though the numbers heavily favored Birla.
Earlier, the government had reached out to Opposition parties for support in Birla's re-election. The Congress had responded by suggesting they would support the NDA candidate if the Deputy Speaker post was given to the Opposition. However, the government made it clear they were not considering this option at present.
As the new parliamentary session begins, this incident highlights the ongoing tensions between the government and Opposition, setting a potentially contentious tone for future proceedings.
