In a notable incident within the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi questioned Speaker Om Birla’s behavior during a session on Monday. Gandhi pointed out that when the Speaker shook his hand, he stood upright, but when he greeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he bowed down.
This observation led to a verbal exchange, with Gandhi suggesting that the Speaker’s act of bowing to the Prime Minister showed undue deference. The opposition cheered Gandhi’s remarks, while NDA members, including Home Minister Amit Shah, objected, considering it an accusation against the chair.
In his defense, Speaker Om Birla explained that his gesture of bowing was a mark of respect rooted in his cultural and moral values, where elders are always respected. He stated, “I bow down when I meet my elders and treat those of my age as equals.”
Despite accepting the Speaker’s explanation, Rahul Gandhi emphasized that the Speaker should remain above all members in the House, deserving of universal respect. He reiterated that the Speaker should not bow to anyone, asserting the Speaker’s supreme authority within the Lok Sabha.
The exchange highlighted the tensions and differing perspectives on decorum and respect within India’s parliamentary proceedings.
