Union Minister Amit Shah defended Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, calling the opposition’s no-confidence motion an unfortunate breach of parliamentary decorum. He argued that questioning the Speaker’s impartiality undermines the credibility of India’s highest democratic institutions.
NEW DELHI – Union Home Minister Amit Shah today issued a staunch defense of the Lok Sabha Speaker, describing the opposition’s no-confidence motion as a direct strike against democratic traditions. Speaking during the House discussion on March 12, 2026, Shah noted that such a motion has not been seen in nearly four decades. Consequently, he labelled the development as both “unfortunate and concerning” for the nation’s parliamentary health.
Shah emphasized that the Speaker does not represent a single party. Instead, the office acts as the ultimate protector of rights for both the ruling benches and the opposition. “The Speaker represents the entire House,” Shah stated. “Therefore, questioning the dignity and impartiality of this position undermines the credibility of our democratic institutions.”
The Home Minister highlighted that the House engaged in 13 hours of detailed deliberation involving 42 Members of Parliament. Despite this extensive dialogue, he accused the opposition of trying to weaken India’s global standing. Furthermore, he addressed allegations made by the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, regarding “stifled” speech.
Shah presented official data to counter these claims. He noted that the opposition received 71 hours of speaking time in the 18th Lok Sabha so far. This proportion, he argued, is significantly higher than that of the ruling party relative to seat counts. “Whenever the Leader of the Opposition gets the opportunity to speak, he is often on foreign visits,” Shah remarked, citing Gandhi’s absences in Germany and Vietnam during previous sessions.
Moreover, Shah praised Speaker Om Birla’s integrity. Notably, Birla is the first Speaker to recuse himself from presiding on moral grounds after the motion was admitted. Shah also pointed out that the Speaker allowed the opposition to correct technical errors in their notice, reflecting a deep commitment to fairness.
In his concluding remarks, the Home Minister urged the House to reject the motion with a clear majority. He maintained that Parliament functions on mutual trust and strict decorum. Ultimately, Shah asserted that any attempt to weaken India’s democratic fabric would never be accepted by the public.
