'You Bowed To PM Modi': Rahul Gandhi's Question To LS Speaker Om Birla Sparks Controversy

'you bowed to pm narendra modi': controversy erupts as rahul gandhi questions lok sabha speaker om birla over greeting

In a spirited session of the Lok Sabha on Monday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi raised eyebrows with remarks directed at Speaker Om Birla over his greeting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Speaker sir, when you assumed this chair, I walked with you to it. You hold the utmost authority in the Lok Sabha. Your words define the essence of Indian democracy," Rahul began.

"There are two personas in that chair, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and Mr Om Birla. When I shook your hand, you stood tall and reciprocated. When Modi ji shook your hand, you bowed," the Congress leader noted.

While Union Home Minister Amit Shah accused Rahul Gandhi of disrespecting the position, Speaker Om Birla directly addressed the remarks, explaining his actions.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the Leader of the House. My upbringing dictates that I bow before those older than me and stand straight while shaking hands with equals," Birla stated.

Rahul Gandhi, while reiterating his respect for the Speaker's sentiments, said, "I respect your sentiments, but within this House, no individual is superior to the Speaker."

"You are the Speaker and you should not bow down before anyone," he added.

The Congress MP said that the Speaker is the last word in the Lok Sabha and in that spirit, as members of the House, we are subservient to him.

Rahul Gandhi also said that he is the Leader of the Opposition and he represents every single party adding that he treats every single party with love and affection.

"When I became LoP, I realised something I did not realise before and also it is on lines and principles of Lord Shiva. The idea was that after becoming the LoP, all my personal dreams, my personal aspiration, and fears have to be put aside. Now actually there are two people. I am not one person. I am a constitutional person and my job is to leader of the Opposition and to represent all these parties.

"In fact, I not only represent the Congress party, I also represent every single party and I have to treat every single party with love and affection. So when Hemant Soren is in jail or Arvind Kejriwal is in jail, it should disturb me, it should hurt me. When you unleash your agencies on the political leaders, it is our job to defend them because there is a constitutional person and an individual," Rahul Gandhi said.

Rahul Gandhi, who made his first speech as Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, also attacked the government over the Agniveer scheme and NEET paper leak issue.

(With inputs from ANI)