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Returning to the chair for the first time since the submission of the Opposition resolution, Birla said while every member has the right to speak about their issues, they, including the LoP, will have to do so with the permission of the chair, including for quoting from any document. The remark is seen as the Speaker’s response to Gandhi and some Opposition MPs’ charge during debate that the LoP was silenced and interrupted when he tried to speak, by quoting from an unpublished book of former Army chief.”Some members argued that the LoP is above the rules of the House, and can speak on any issue, but I want to clarify that no one enjoys any such special privilege. I want to make it clear that be it the leader of the House or leader of the Opposition or any minister, everyone is allowed to speak under the laid down rules and procedures. I want to make it clear that the rules and procedures, determined by the House itself, are applicable on every member equally,” Birla said in his address to the House to thank the members for participating in the two-day debate.
Maintaining that rules are framed by the House, he said everyone, including the Prime Minister, ministers, LoP and members can speak but after permission from the House and that members will have to respect the ruling of the chair whether one agreed or disagreed with it.
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Driving home how permission of the Speaker was required for quoting from any documents, he narrated how in 1957, then Opposition MP AB Vajpayee was prevented by then Speaker from displaying some photos of J&K while speaking by ordering the photos needed to be examined by the chair first. “Vajpayeeji upheld the dignity of the House by accepting the chair’s decision,” Birla said. He quoted two more examples involving senior MPs Renu Chakravarthy and SM Banerjee in 1958 when they were similarly barred by the chair from quoting from some documents. Gandhi was present in the House while the Speaker spoke.
“I have always tried to run the House with neutrality, discipline, balance and as per rules. I always try to uphold the decorum, dignity and respect of the House…,” he added.
