Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi expressed worries about the functioning and impartiality of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla during a debate on a resolution to remove the Speaker. Gogoi highlighted an incident where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was advised against attending the House due to security reasons, which he termed as “shameful.”
Gogoi further criticized Speaker Birla for advising PM Modi not to address the Lok Sabha during the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address, citing concerns about potential disruptions by women MPs. Birla defended his decision based on intelligence reports suggesting possible disorder and security threats from Opposition MPs.
Questioning the Speaker’s neutrality, Gogoi argued that advising the Prime Minister not to attend the House in advance was a breach of protocol. He emphasized the significance of the Speaker’s role in upholding the dignity and freedom of the House, quoting India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on the importance of the position.
Gogoi also raised concerns about the space for expression in the House and questioned the government’s handling of national dignity issues. He referenced reports of the US allowing India to continue purchasing Russian oil amid conflicts in West Asia, prompting him to question India’s global standing and the rhetoric of being a ‘Vishwaguru.’
