The Lok Sabha on Wednesday rejected, by voice vote, an Opposition resolution seeking the removal of Speaker Om Birla after a heated debate in which the government defended his impartiality and the Opposition accused him of curbing their voice in the House.
Home Minister Amit Shah called the motion unfortunate and said it undermined the dignity of the Speaker’s office, while Opposition leaders including Rahul Gandhi and K C Venugopal alleged that they were not allowed to speak adequately.
The resolution had been moved by Congress MP Mohammad Jawed, who accused Birla of bias and failing to maintain neutrality. After the motion was defeated, the House was adjourned till the next day.