Rijiju Alleges Misconduct in Speaker’s Chamber

A fresh political confrontation has erupted in Parliament after Union minister Kiren Rijiju accused several Congress MPs of misconduct inside the chamber of Om Birla.

Speaking to reporters in New Delhi on Wednesday, Rijiju alleged that around 20–25 Congress MPs entered the Speaker’s chamber and used inappropriate language. He claimed that he was present at the time and described the incident as a serious breach of parliamentary decorum.

Rijiju further alleged that some senior Congress leaders were also inside the chamber and did not attempt to stop the situation. According to him, the Speaker remained calm despite the tense exchange.

The minister also referred to a ruling given by the Speaker in the House, claiming it was not followed by some members. He said that no member, including the Prime Minister, can speak in the Lok Sabha without the Chair’s permission, as per established parliamentary rules.

The Congress party has not issued an official response to Rijiju’s specific allegations at the time of writing. However, the Opposition has separately raised concerns about the functioning of the Speaker.

On Tuesday, Opposition parties reportedly submitted a notice seeking the removal of Om Birla as Speaker. They have accused him of acting in a partisan manner and have demanded that he step aside from presiding over proceedings until the matter is resolved.

Opposition leaders have also objected to certain remarks made by the Speaker in the House. They have alleged that some statements were inaccurate and have questioned procedural decisions taken during recent debates.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has strongly criticised the move to seek the Speaker’s removal. The ruling party described it as an attempt to weaken parliamentary institutions.

The tensions come amid continued disruptions in Parliament since early February. Proceedings have frequently been interrupted following a dispute involving Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. He was reportedly not allowed by the Chair to quote from an article based on excerpts of an unpublished memoir by former Army chief M. M. Naravane.

The standoff intensified on February 4, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was unable to deliver his reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address due to protests in the House.

In an unusual development, the Motion of Thanks was passed the following day without the customary reply from the Prime Minister. The Speaker read out the motion, and it was approved by voice vote amid continued sloganeering.

Rijiju also claimed that tensions in the Lok Sabha could have escalated further if members of the ruling alliance had responded strongly during earlier confrontations. He said BJP and NDA MPs were upset but chose to remain restrained.

The situation reflects the deepening divide between the government and the Opposition in the current parliamentary session. Both sides have traded accusations over conduct and procedure, leading to repeated disruptions.

As of now, no formal disciplinary action has been announced regarding the alleged chamber incident. Parliamentary proceedings continue amid heightened political tensions.