New Delhi, 11 March (H.S.): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday decried the no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla as a regrettable episode for parliamentary politics, marking the first such move in nearly four decades.

Responding to the debate, Shah emphasized that Lok Sabha proceedings operate on mutual trust, with the Speaker serving as an impartial custodian representing both treasury and opposition benches. He noted that House rules empower the Speaker to conduct proceedings, underscoring that this is no ordinary occurrence after about 40 years.

This House is no marketplace; members are expected to articulate views through prescribed rules and procedures, Shah asserted, adding that while rights can be asserted, rule violations are unacceptable. Even when BJP was in opposition, it never tabled such a motion, he recalled, stressing that Speaker's rulings are final per Lok Sabha norms, beyond question on integrity.

Shah highlighted that Birla's election to the chair enjoyed consensus from both sides, implying a joint duty to afford him an impartial environment for duties. Over 75 years, both Houses have fortified India's democracy, earning global acclaim—yet impugning the top post's integrity harms national and international standing.

Such motions are exceedingly rare; members can engage Speakers privately, Shah observed, cautioning against scenarios questioning even the chair's security, which wounds parliamentary dignity.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar