Parliament Budget Session Day 11: Speaker Steps Aside Until Opposition Motion Resolved

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has stepped aside on “moral grounds” amid an Opposition motion seeking his removal, as Parliament continues heated Budget discussions clouded by ongoing disruptions.

Top Summary

What happened: Speaker Om Birla will not preside over Lok Sabha sessions until the Opposition’s motion for his removal is addressed.

Why it matters now: The move comes amid prolonged disruptions over Rahul Gandhi being stopped from citing excerpts of former Army chief M.M. Naravane’s unpublished memoir.

What changes for people: The Lok Sabha will function under alternate chairpersons, affecting the tone and authority of proceedings during crucial Budget debates.

Who is affected: MPs across party lines, the presiding officers’ panel, and ministries presenting Budget responses.

Speaker steps aside on ‘moral grounds’

According to sources, Om Birla will refrain from presiding over the House until the notice for his removal is disposed of—a rare development in Parliamentary history. The decision aims to avoid conflict-of-interest allegations while the Opposition pursues its motion.

While his statutory authority remains intact, day-to-day proceedings will be overseen by members of the Panel of Chairpersons.

Tensions escalate after disruptions

The Lok Sabha has been repeatedly adjourned since February 2, after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was stopped from quoting an article referencing former Army chief M. M. Naravane and the 2020 India–China conflict from his unpublished memoir.

The Opposition called the restriction arbitrary. The government argued the article cited unverified and unpublished material.

The issue snowballed into a confrontation involving:

Protests in the House

Opposition MPs filing privilege motions

Now, a motion seeking the Speaker’s removal

Kiren Rijiju warns of ‘ugly scenes’ avoided

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Tuesday that “very ugly scenes” could have occurred had BJP members been allowed to directly confront Congress MPs on the day Prime Minister Modi was scheduled to reply to the Motion of Thanks.

According to Rijiju:

The Speaker’s restraint “prevented chaos”

BJP MPs were prepared to strongly challenge the Opposition

The disruption denied the PM’s reply, delaying key legislative processes

Budget discussion continues despite turbulence

Both Houses are expected to continue the Union Budget 2026–27 debate today. The Congress has indicated it will raise:

The India–US interim trade deal

Concerns over tariff changes

Price rise and employment data

Transparency in defence-sector decision-making

Meanwhile, the government aims to highlight:

Fiscal consolidation

Infrastructure spending

Technology and AI-led growth strategies

But with tempers high, smooth functioning remains uncertain.