'You bowed down while shaking hands with PM Modi', Rahul tells Om Birla; LS Speaker reveals why

Om Birla (L) and Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday responded to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's observation that he bowed down in front of PM Modi while shaking his hands in Parliament.

"When Modi ji went to shake your hands and I went to shake your hands, I noticed something. When I came to you, you stood straight up and shook my hand ... and when Modiji shook your hand, you bowed down," Rahul said during his address in the lower house.

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The remark triggered uproar from the treasury benches, with Union home minister Amit Shah raising objections.

However, Birla curtly responded by saying that PM Modi is the leader of the House and he has been taught by his culture to respect those senior to him.

" ... My culture dictates me to bow before my seniors or elders and give equal respect to my peers," Birla said.

To this, Rahul responded: "I respect what you said. But I believe that no one is bigger than the Speaker of the House. I believe in that ... you are the leader of the house and you don't have to bow in front of anyone," he said.

On June 26, PM Modi, Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju accompanied Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla to the chair on Wednesday after Birla was re-elected as the Lok Sabha speaker for a second term.

Both Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi congratulated Om Birla for being elected to the post and shook his hands. The two leaders also shook hands with each other after the Speaker's election in the lower house.