New Delhi: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla stated on Thursday (February 5) that the House was adjourned before Prime Minister Narendra Modi could deliver his address, following Opposition members surrounding the Speaker’s chair and causing disruption. He said that foreseeing disturbances orchestrated by the Congress, he recommended that the Prime Minister refrain from entering the Lok Sabha. Describing the incident as unprecedented, Birla stated that bringing political disputes to the Speaker’s office was unacceptable and termed the episode a “black spot” in Parliament’s history.
“When the leader of the house was supposed to give his response to the President’s address, I got concrete information that several members of the Congress party were planning to go to the PM’s chair and do something unexpected. I saw the event too. If it had happened, the incident would have been very appalling and completely destroyed the democratic tradition of the country,” said Birla. “So it was my responsibility to then ensure that PM Modi does not come to the house,” the speaker added further.
What transpired in the Lok Sabha?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to address the Lok Sabha on Wednesday (February 4) to respond to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address. However, repeated disruptions and sloganeering in the House led Speaker Om Birla to adjourn the proceedings amid heated exchanges between the Opposition and BJP members.
