NEW DELHI — The Parliament’s Budget session hit a fever pitch on Tuesday as the Lok Sabha began a historic debate to remove Speaker Om Birla, while the Rajya Sabha erupted over allegations of electoral roll manipulation.
The Battle for the Chair
In the Lower House, the atmosphere turned electric as Congress MP Mohammed Jawed moved a formal resolution for the Speaker’s removal. The House has allocated ten hours for what is expected to be a grueling debate.
Opposition voices, led by Gaurav Gogoi and K.C. Venugopal, immediately challenged the optics of the proceedings, questioning why a Speaker-appointed chairperson was presiding while the Deputy Speaker post remains vacant. In a sharp jab at parliamentary management, Gogoi accused the Treasury benches of “weaponizing” microphones, claiming the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, is routinely silenced.
Upper House Walkout
Across the hall in the Rajya Sabha, the “Special Intensive Revision” (SIR) of electoral rolls took center stage. Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge didn’t mince words, labeling the revision process a “fraud.”
The session hit a roadblock when Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan blocked the discussion, noting that electoral reforms had already been debated. This sparked a fiery walkout by the Opposition, who exited the chamber brandishing placards and chanting slogans against “vote theft.”
Business Amidst the Chaos
Despite the high-octane protests:
Agriculture: Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan continued answering queries on farmer welfare, slamming the Opposition for disrupting “vital” discussions.
Environment: Minister Bhupender Yadav addressed the Rajya Sabha to conclude the debate on his ministry’s performance.
With the 10-hour marathon debate on the Speaker’s fate looming, the rift between the Government and the Opposition appears wider than ever.
Stormy Tuesday: Both Houses battle with electoral issues &Speaker’s ouster
