'Lok Sabha speaker ran away, stopped me from speaking': Rahul
What's the story
In a latest media interaction, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has accused Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla of not allowing him to speak in the Parliament.
Bewildered by the development, he said that despite asking for permission to speak, Speaker Birla ended the session suddenly without letting him speak.
"I don't know what is going on. I requested him to let me speak, but he (Speaker) just ran away," Gandhi told reporters.
Allegation
'No place for opposition in the House'
Gandhi further elaborated on what happened during the session, saying it has become a norm to deny him a chance to speak in the House.
"I have not been allowed to speak for 7-8 days. This is a new tactic. There is no place for Opposition."
"That day, the Prime Minister spoke about Kumbh Mela, I wanted to add something, speak about unemployment, but I was not allowed to," he alleged.
"This is a non-democratic way of functioning," Gandhi added.
Speaker's response
Speaker Birla emphasizes decorum in House
Speaker Birla, prior to adjourning the House, emphasized on decorum among members. He particularly stated that the Leader of Opposition should set an example.
"Several instances have come to my notice in which the conduct of members is not up to the high standards of this House," he said.
He said that he expects Gandhi to behave in line with Rule 349, which prescribes rules for the conduct of members in Parliament.
Modi
Maha Kumbh reinforced the sense of unity: Modi
In his speech last week, Modi said that the Maha Kumbh reinforced the sense of unity, and gave a befitting response to those who questioned India's capability to organize such congregations.
"People put aside their egos and gathered in Prayagraj with the feeling of 'we'...not 'I'...that there was no distinction between big and small," the PM said.
But as he spoke, opposition members protested against the government over the deaths in a stampede at Maha Kumbh.
Support
PM's statement was made under Rule 372
Gandhi later clarified he wanted to support Modi's statement about Kumbh being our tradition, but wasn't given a chance.
"Our only complaint is that the Prime Minister did not pay tribute to those who died in Kumbh," Gandhi said at the time.
Speaker Om Birla clarified that the PM's statement was made under Rule 372.
Under the same rule, opposition members could not seek clarification on the statement, Birla said.