The 18th Lok Sabha on Wednesday dismissed the no-confidence motion against Speaker Birla through a voice vote amid ruckus in the House over Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Shah, while participating in the two-day debate on the resolution moved by Congress MP Mohammad Jawed, had slammed the Opposition parties for raising questions on India’s democracy by bringing the co-confidence motion against the Speaker.
He also took a veiled jibe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, saying that when the time for speaking in the House came, some leaders chose to go to Germany.
BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, who was in the Chair, after Birla decided to skip the proceedings, called for a voice vote and said the resolution has been defeated.
“According to the established history of this House, its proceedings are conducted on the basis of mutual trust. The Speaker serves as a neutral custodian, representing both the ruling party and the Opposition. Specific rules have been created by this very Lok Sabha to guide how the Speaker should conduct the sessions. This House is not a marketplace; members are expected to speak and participate according to its rules and procedures,” he said.
The Home Minister said that the actions of the Opposition have raised questions about the reputation of India’s democracy.
“The Constitution has given the role of a mediator to the Speaker. You cast suspicions on the mediator. In 75 years, both the Houses have made the foundation of our democracy deeper than ‘paatal’. Opposition has questioned the reputation of that deep foundation,” he said.
He stated that the Bharatiya Janata Party has been in the Opposition for a long time, but the party never brought a no-confidence motion against the Speaker.
“Three times, a no-confidence motion against the Speaker of the Lok Sabha was introduced in the House; however, neither the BJP nor the NDA has ever brought forward such a motion,” Shah added.