New Delhi: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday admonished leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi and asked him to conduct himself according to the rules of procedure that members are expected to observe to uphold the dignity of the House. While Birla did not give any reason for his censure of Rahul, BJP later released an undated video in which the LoP was seen affectionately cupping the cheeks of his sister and MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra during House proceedings . Rahul, however, later claimed that he was not being given a chance to speak in the House which, he claimed, was being run in a “non-democratic style”, and Birla had made “unsubstantiated” remarks about him.
The video clip showed Rahul walking through the aisle, turning to Priyanka and cupping her face, while his party colleague Manickam Tagore was speaking. Rahul was present in Lok Sabha on Wednesday after being absent for a few days. Birla probably had this incident in mind while rebuking Rahul.
“In this House, father and daughter, mother and daughter, husband and wife have been members. In this context, I expect the leader of opposition to conduct himself in accordance with Rule 349 that deals with rules to be observed by members in the House,” the speaker said, adding that MPs should conduct themselves in a manner that upheld the high standards and dignity of the House. Rahul was present in the House and wanted to speak on some issue but Birla adjourned proceedings for the lunch break after making his po.
