'Is Rahul Gandhi above Lok Sabha protocol?': Kiren Rijiju

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju

• Rijiju defends Speaker Om Birla against Congress criticism.
• He praises Birla's reforms and digitisation of Parliament.
• Rijiju questions Rahul Gandhi's respect for parliamentary protocol.

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Partaking in the debate on the no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday slammed the Congress-led opposition for saying that proceedings in Lok Sabha are conducted in a partial manner to help the ruling party.

Slamming Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi for his remark that the current Speaker has lowered the 'constitutional post', Rijiju said: All members are equal in this House and everyone needs the chair’s permission to speak in the House. He added the microphone doesn’t switch on for him automatically just because he is a Minister. Rijiju also slammed Rahul Gandhi for not following the established parliamentary procedures and questioned -- Is Rahul Gandhi above Lok Sabha protocol?.

Saying that Gaurav Gogoi made a remark against him, Mr. Rijiju says its not Mr. Gogoi’s fault because since becoming a parliamentarian, the Congress party hasn’t been on power and so he would not be aware of the working of the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry.

Earlier today, Talking on Speaker Om Birla, Mr. Gogoi refers to the incident when Mr. Birla advised PM Modi to not come to the House for the reply on motion of thanks to the President’s address, claiming “credible information that certain women MPs intend to surround the PM’s chair and create an unexpected situation”, and calls the incident “shameful”.

Rijiju speaking in support of Speaker Om Birla. He said: "Nobody can deny the amount of reforms during Mr. Birla’s tenure as the Speaker. Matters raised during the Zero Hour is the highest during Om Birla’s tenure, he says, adding, the highest number of matter raised under Rule 377, matters of public interest, special mentions have all been done during Om Birla’s tenure."

He also praised Birla’s role in digitising Parliament, paperless functioning, e-notice, e-bulletin, e-reports, e-office and the development of members’ portal. He should every member should thank Mr. Birla for enabling these under his leadership.