New Delhi, February 9 The Congress claimed on Monday that there is "no space for the opposition" in the Lok Sabha and responded to reports that the opposition may move a no-confidence motion against Speaker Om Birla, saying "wait for action."
Congress MP K C Venugopal alleged that Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders are not being allowed to voice their opinions in the Lower House, while the government side can state whatever they want, including "derogatory remarks" against opposition members.
Asked about reports that the opposition may move a no-confidence motion against Speaker Birla, Venugopal said, "You see what is happening in Parliament. You can see in this session that the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, is not being allowed to speak in this House."
"The government side can say anything. They can attack anyone, make derogatory remarks, even against those who are no longer alive. The Speaker is making allegations against Congress women MPs. There is no space for the opposition in this house at all," Venugopal told reporters in the Parliament House complex.
"Whether it is the LoP or other opposition leaders, they are not being allowed to speak. This kind of attitude towards the opposition has not been there at any time," he said.
On whether the opposition will seek to move such a motion, Venugopal said "you will know after the action," and added that the entire opposition is united.
"I cannot comment on the reports, wait for action," he said.
Venugopal's remarks came after a meeting of opposition floor leaders in Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's chamber in the Parliament House complex this morning to decide on a joint strategy for the next few days.
In an unprecedented development, the Lok Sabha passed the Motion of Thanks on Thursday last without the customary reply from the Prime Minister, which was scheduled a day earlier, in the face of relentless sloganeering by opposition members.
An anguished Lok Sabha Speaker last Thursday said he had "concrete information" that many Congress members might move towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi's seat and carry out "some unexpected act," as a result of which he had requested him not to come to the House to reply to the discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address.
As the Lower House reassembled after three adjournments on Thursday, Birla said if this incident had taken place, then it would have left the democratic traditions of the country in "shreds."
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had told reporters in the Parliament House complex that day that it was an "absolute lie" that there was any plan to hurt Modi. She also alleged that Prime Minister Modi was "hiding behind" the Speaker.