Om Birla says he asked PM Modi to skip House over security concerns

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said he asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to attend the House after receiving information that some Congress MPs could create disruption. He warned that such actions could damage democratic traditions

New Delhi: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday said he had concrete information that many Congress MPs could carry out an “unexpected act” by reaching the spot where Prime Minister Narendra Modi sits and therefore he asked him not to come to the House to deliver his address.

If this incident had taken place, then it would have left the democratic traditions of the country in shreds, Birla said as the House reassembled at 3 PM.

Lashing out at opposition members, the Speaker said the conduct of some of them in his office on Wednesday was not appropriate and, in fact, was “like a black spot”.

“With sadness, I have to inform that some members displayed such behaviour in the House on Wednesday that had never been witnessed in its history,” he said.

The Lok Sabha on Wednesday witnessed dramatic scenes as women opposition MPs charged towards the Prime Minister’s seat holding banners ahead of his scheduled speech, leading to adjournment of proceedings for the day.

Modi was not present in the House, and BJP member P P Chaudhary was making his remarks on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address when the opposition members trooped into the Well of the House.

Birla said the dignity of the Chair has been established in the Constitution.

“Never in history have political differences been dragged into the House. The conduct of the opposition members in the office of the Speaker was not appropriate and, in fact, it was like a black spot,” he said.

“When the Leader of the House was to reply to the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address, I had concrete information that many members of the Congress party could carry out an unexpected act by reaching the spot where the Prime Minister sits,” he said.

“If this incident had taken place, it would have left the democratic traditions of the country in shreds. To avoid this, I requested the PM not to come to the House and, as the Speaker, it was my responsibility to uphold the dignity of the House,” Birla said.

The Speaker thanked Modi for acceding to his request and avoiding unpleasant scenes in the Lok Sabha by not coming to the House on Wednesday.

Birla later adjourned the House for the day as opposition members raised slogans and protested.