Kiren Rijiju releases video of Lok Sabha Speaker's chamber incident

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has released a video clip, purportedly recorded by a Congress MP inside Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla's chamber on February 4, escalating the political tensions between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Opposition. Rijiju alleged that a group of 20-25 Congress MPs barged into the Speaker's chamber, used abusive language towards Speaker Birla, and threatened Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He further claimed that senior Congress leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and K.C. Venugopal, were present and allegedly encouraged the MPs to engage in confrontational behavior. Rijiju stated that Speaker Birla was deeply hurt by the incident and that he had advised the Prime Minister to skip a session to avoid any untoward situation, citing information that some Congress MPs might approach the Prime Minister's seat. The incident is reported to have occurred amidst a series of disruptions in the Lok Sabha during the Budget Session. These disruptions stemmed from the Opposition's demand for a debate on remarks made by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, who quoted from books, while Opposition leaders like Rahul Gandhi were allegedly denied similar opportunities. The controversy intensified when Congress MPs, particularly women MPs, gathered near the Prime Minister's seat before his scheduled speech, holding a banner with a quote from an article based on General (Retd.) M.M. Naravane's unpublished book, 'Four Stars of Destiny'. In response to the allegations, Congress leaders have denied abusing Speaker Birla. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra termed Rijiju's charge as a lie, stating that while some MPs were agitated, they did not resort to abuse and that she was merely speaking peacefully to the Speaker. Adding to the political drama, Opposition parties, including the Congress, have submitted a notice for a no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on February 10, 2026. They accuse him of acting in a "blatantly partisan" manner and failing to provide equal opportunities for debate. This motion, if admitted, would be the fourth such attempt in India's history to remove a Lok Sabha Speaker, though none have been successful. The notice reportedly had signatures from 118 MPs, although there were initial reports of shortcomings in the notice that needed rectification. The procedure for such a motion requires a 14-day notice period and the support of at least 50 members in the House for it to be admitted for discussion. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, while releasing the video, emphasized that the BJP MPs were restrained from retaliating to prevent the situation from escalating into a more serious confrontation. He asserted that the BJP believes in debate and discussion, not physical threats. The release of the video and the subsequent political exchanges underscore a deepening institutional confrontation between the government and the opposition, highlighting concerns about parliamentary decorum and the impartiality of the Speaker's office. The article also references the context of the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, which was passed without the Prime Minister's reply. The events of February 4, including the alleged incident in the Speaker's chamber and the protests near the Prime Minister's seat, have become central to the ongoing political discourse and parliamentary proceedings. The controversy is further fueled by the fact that the video released by Rijiju was allegedly filmed by a Congress MP inside the Speaker's chamber, an act considered a breach of parliamentary privilege and subject to investigation. Overall, the incident and the subsequent video release represent a significant development in India's parliamentary politics, characterized by accusations of misconduct, partisan behavior, and a struggle for political narrative control. The no-confidence motion against the Speaker adds a constitutional dimension to the ongoing political conflict.

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