Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Mar 11: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Wednesday alleged that he was stopped from speaking on several occasions in the House and claimed that, for the first time in parliamentary history, he was not allowed to deliver his speech during the first phase of the Budget Session.

His remarks came after senior Bharatiya Janata Party MP Ravi Shankar Prasad criticised him during a debate on a resolution seeking the removal of Om Birla as Speaker.

Prasad alleged that the Leader of Opposition had made remarks against the country while abroad and suggested that he should be made aware of parliamentary rules and conventions by his own party.

Responding to the comments, Rahul Gandhi said the discussion in the House was about the democratic process and the role of the Speaker, yet his name had repeatedly been mentioned during the debate.

“This House is the expression of the people of India. This House does not represent one party. It represents the whole country. Every time we get up to speak, we are stopped,” he said.

He further claimed that he was prevented from speaking during the earlier debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address.

“Just a few days ago, for the first time in Indian history, a Leader of Opposition was not allowed to speak. The last time I spoke, I raised fundamental questions about the compromises that have been made by our Prime Minister,” Rahul said.

He added that during that debate he had raised issues concerning Narendra Modi, former Army chief MM Naravane, the Epstein case and industrialist Gautam Adani, but claimed he was “silenced”.

Rahul Gandhi alleged that the issues he raised were important to the people of India and questioned what he described as compromises by the Prime Minister. Prasad immediately rejected the allegation, asserting that Modi “can never be compromised”.

During his speech, Prasad also said that the resolution seeking Birla’s removal as Speaker should not be “weaponised” to satisfy the ego of any leader and described the debate as “painful”.

Quoting from Practice and Procedures of Parliament by M N Kaul and S L Shakdher, he urged the Leader of Opposition to measure his words carefully, remarks that triggered protests from Opposition members.

Prasad further asked senior Indian National Congress leader KC Venugopal to counsel Rahul Gandhi on parliamentary conduct, saying he was among the few leaders whom the Leader of Opposition listens to.