Congress Critiques BJP Over Contrasting Speaker Debate Allocations

The Congress criticized Union Minister Kiren Rijiju for comparing the time allocated for recent and 1954 debates on removing the Lok Sabha Speaker. Rijiju highlighted the longer time for current debates; however, Congress noted then-Prime Minister Nehru had ensured substantial debate time for opposition in 1954.

The Congress party sharply criticized Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday for contrasting the 10-hour debate allocated for the resolution to remove the Lok Sabha speaker with a similar debate in 1954, which only lasted two-and-a-half hours.

The Congress highlighted that Jawaharlal Nehru had requested that the majority of debate time be reserved for the opposition during the 1954 discussions. Rijiju, in defense, pointed out the current extended debate compared to the past, stressing that the government is not avoiding confrontation.

During the debate, opposition members questioned Speaker Om Birla's impartiality, while government members underscored its fairness. The Speaker, allowed by the Constitution to defend himself, chose not to attend the proceedings.