Gaurav Gogoi accuses ruling party of violating house traditions
Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi accused the ruling party of violating House traditions, rules, and culture. A delegation from the INDIA bloc submitted a letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker detailing these violations. Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition, expressed frustration, claiming he is consistently prevented from speaking in the House. He questioned the ruling party's motives and criticized the Speaker's unclear references to Rule 349.
Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi on Thursday said that a delegation of the INDIA bloc gave a letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker stating how the ruling party is violating the traditions, rules and culture of the House.
"Today a delegation of INDIA bloc met the Speaker during Zero Hour. It included Congress, SP, TMC, Kerala Congress, RJD, DMK, IUML, RLP and MDMK... We gave a letter to the Speaker, which has the signatures of the people of INDIA bloc, including RSP and Shiv Sena (UBT)... We wrote in the letter how the ruling party is violating the traditions, rules and culture of the House," Gogoi told reporters.
"Yesterday, the Speaker said that the LoP should follow Rule 349, but he did not clarify which incident he was referring to... In the evening, this incident was politicised outside the House... Yesterday, when LoP stood up to speak, the House was immediately adjourned," he added.
Congress MP and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi reiterated that he is never allowed to speak in the House. Expressing skepticism, Gandhi said that he doesn't know what the ruling party is "scared" of.
"I am never allowed to speak. I don't know what they are scared of?" said Rahul Gandhi while heading towards the Parliament.
Earlier on Wednesday, Gandhi had alleged that he was not allowed to speak in the House.
The LoP claimed that it was an "unsubstantiated remark" about him and that there is a convention that the Leader of Opposition is allowed to speak when he rises to do so.
"I don't know what is going on...I requested him to let me speak...This is no way to run the House. Speaker just left and he did not let me speak...he said something unsubstantiated about me...he adjourned the House, there was no need...it is a convention, LoP is given time to speak. Whenever I stand up, I am stopped from speaking...I did nothing, I was quietly sitting," Rahul Gandhi told reporters.
"Yesterday, the Speaker said that the LoP should follow Rule 349, but he did not clarify which incident he was referring to... In the evening, this incident was politicised outside the House... Yesterday, when LoP stood up to speak, the House was immediately adjourned," he added.