Om Birla Speaker removal motion defeated in Lok Sabha after heated debate

India’s Lok Sabha defeated an opposition motion to remove Speaker Om Birla following a heated debate. Union Home Minister Amit Shah disputed Rahul Gandhi’s claim that he was repeatedly prevented from speaking. Opposition MPs protested in the Well of the House and demanded an apology over remarks they called offensive before the motion was rejected by voice vote.

The Lok Sabha voted down an opposition motion to remove Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday. The decision came after a sharp debate and loud protests in the House. Union Home Minister Amit Shah rejected claims that Rahul Gandhi was blocked from speaking. Shah said the Congress leader often missed sittings and chose not to join debates.

As Shah ended the two-day debate, opposition MPs walked into the Well and raised slogans. They demanded an apology for remarks they called offensive. Jagdambika Pal, who was in the chair, asked members to return to seats. The motion was then rejected by a voice vote, and the House adjourned.

Om Birla removal motion debate in Lok Sabha

Om Birla did not attend the House during the full debate on the motion. Earlier, Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition LoP, spoke during the discussion. Rahul Gandhi said Rahul Gandhi was stopped from speaking many times. Rahul Gandhi said the Lok Sabha reflected the whole country, not one party.

Rahul Gandhi also alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had been compromised. Rahul Gandhi said it was the first time an LOP was stopped from speaking. The interjection followed remarks by BJP’s Ravi Shankar Prasad. Ravi Shankar Prasad referred to procedure and urged careful words on national security matters.

Om Birla removal motion and Amit Shah response

Shah criticised the opposition for moving a no-confidence motion against the Speaker. Shah said the House followed its rulebook and not any party’s wishes. Shah also contrasted the present with the Emergency period. Shah said opposition voices were then curbed through arrests, not through House rules.

"We never suppressed the voice of the opposition. The voice of opposition was suppressed during the Emergency when leaders were put in jail. False propaganda is being spread that opposition leaders are not allowed to speak. Rahul Gandhi said he is not allowed to speak. But the fact is he doesnt want to speak in the Lok Sabha, Shah said.\"

Shah cited attendance and speaking-time figures to counter allegations against the Speaker. Shah said Rahul Gandhi’s attendance in the 17th Lok Sabha was 51 per cent. Shah said the House average was 66 per cent. Shah said Rahul Gandhi’s attendance in the 16th Lok Sabha was 52 per cent, against an 80 per cent average.

Shah also gave figures on time allotted for speeches in the 17th Lok Sabha. Shah said Congress received 157 hours and 55 minutes with 52 members. Shah said BJP received 349 hours and 8 minutes with 303 members. Shah said this showed Congress got more time per MP than BJP.

Om Birla removal motion and Rahul Gandhi attendance claims

Shah said foreign travel explained much of Rahul Gandhi’s lower attendance. Shah said Rahul Gandhi visited Germany during the 2025 Winter session. Shah said Rahul Gandhi visited Vietnam in the 2025 Budget session. Shah said Rahul Gandhi visited the UK during the 2023 Budget session.

Shah said Rahul Gandhi travelled to Singapore and Malaysia during the 2018 Budget session. Shah said Rahul Gandhi missed the full Monsoon session in 2020 due to travel. Shah said Rahul Gandhi travelled for about 60 days during the 2015 Budget session. Shah presented these trips as a key cause of absences.

Shah said Rahul Gandhi skipped several major debates in earlier years. Shah said Rahul Gandhi did not join the Motion of Thanks discussions in 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2018. Shah said Rahul Gandhi did not join Union Budget discussions during the 16th Lok Sabha. Shah also said Rahul Gandhi did not take part in debates on most bills.

Shah said Rahul Gandhi did not join any finance bill discussion in the 16th Lok Sabha. Shah added one exception in that period. Shah said Rahul Gandhi spoke on the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Amendment Second Bill, 2015. Shah used this record to argue that absence from debates was a choice.

Om Birla removal motion and Speaker neutrality claims

Shah said a Speaker acted as a neutral guardian for both sides. Shah said it was rare for the House to see such a motion after nearly four decades. Shah said it harmed parliamentary politics when parties questioned a Speaker’s integrity. Shah also said the BJP never moved such a motion during long years in opposition.

\"We can speak of our rights, but no one can violate the rules of the House. We may not agree with the speakers ruling, but it is binding and cannot be doubted. When the BJP was in the opposition, it never brought a no-confidence motion against the speaker, he said.\"

\"This is a regrettable event for both Parliamentary politics and the House. Because the speaker does not belong to any party, the speaker belongs to the House. The House will be run by its rules, not by the rules of a party, he said.\"

Shah said a no-confidence motion against a Lok Sabha Speaker was introduced three times in history. Shah said neither the BJP nor the NDA had ever moved such a motion. Shah called it condemnable when the opposition questioned the integrity of a Speaker’s decision. Shah said doing so weakened the dignity of democratic institutions.

\"This is a very unfortunate... To oppose the government, you are raising questions on the speaker, who is a symbol of the dignity of democracy, he said, hitting out at the opposition.\"

Om Birla removal motion and Rahul Gandhi remarks in House

During the exchange, Rahul Gandhi said the debate repeatedly referenced Rahul Gandhi’s name. Rahul Gandhi said harsh comments were made about Rahul Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi framed the issue as one of democratic practice and the Speaker’s role. Rahul Gandhi also said the House expressed the people’s will across parties.

\"The discussion here is about the democratic process and the role of the speaker. But multiple times, my name is being raised, vile things are being said about me. This House is the expression of the peoples will. This House does not represent one party; it represents the whole country, the former Congress president said.\"

\"Every time we get up to speak, we are stopped. The last time I spoke, I raised fundamental questions about the compromises made by our prime minister. Multiple times, I have been stopped from speaking. Just a few days ago, for the first time in Indias history, the Leader of Opposition was not allowed to speak during a debate, Gandhi said.\"

Rahul Gandhi said earlier remarks in Parliament raised questions about the prime minister. Rahul Gandhi also listed subjects Rahul Gandhi claimed were blocked from discussion. Rahul Gandhi connected these issues to public interest. Rahul Gandhi repeated the claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had been compromised.

\"I raised the issue of Mr M M Naravane, I raised the issue of Epstein, I raised the issue of Adani, and I was silenced. These issues are fundamental to the people of India, he said.\"

\"Our prime minister has been compromised; everybody knows the result of that, Gandhi said.\"

The motion against Om Birla failed by voice vote amid continuing protests. The government said rules governed the House and defended the Speaker’s neutrality. The opposition maintained that Rahul Gandhi and others faced limits on speaking time. With Jagdambika Pal presiding, proceedings ended for the day after the vote.

With inputs from PTI