Birla back in his chair, says rules same for all, and leader of oppn won't get special privilege

NEW DELHI: A day after the vote of no-confidence against him was rejected, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla resumed duty and asserted that he would stick to rules and not allow special treatment to any member, including leader of the opposition."Some members believe that leader of the opposition may stand at any time and speak on any subject of their choice as their special privilege. I wish to clarify that the House functions according to rules framed by the House itself. These rules apply equally to every member," said a confident Birla as he repudiated the charge - the principal justification of the Congress-led move to bring a motion against him - that he did not let Rahul Gandhi speak.

He rejected the charge that he has been unfair to opposition and switches off microphones when they are speaking. "I would like to clarify once again that the Chair does not have any button to switch microphones on or off. The system in the Houses activates the microphone only of the member who has been granted permission to speak," he said.Birla's assertion came a day after home minister Amit Shah and other speakers from NDA turned the debate on no-confidence motion against the Speaker into one on Gandhi's alleged sense of entitlement and the resultant expectation of privileged treatment.

The Speaker, with Shah and defence minister Rajnath Singh, with others looking on, said all members enjoy the same status. "Each member comes here with the responsibility to raise the concerns of the people and to fulfil their hopes and expectations."Birla, who had annoyed Congress by saying that he had been tipped off about the opposition party's plans to get its women members to surround PM Narendra Modi last month when he was scheduled to participate in the debate on motion of thanks to President, denied that he had shown disrespect to women members.

"I have always held the highest respect for all women members. My endeavour has always been to ensure that every woman member gets the opportunity to speak in this House.

During my tenure, every woman member, including first-time members, has had the opportunity to express her views."He also denied that opposition members were not given enough time to speak. To the contrary, opposition members have often received more time than allocated during debates.

"I frequently extend the time allotted for debates and Zero Hour so that more members can express their views."Birla, however, was firm about not allowing sloganeering, display of placards, the tearing and throwing of papers, and movement into the Well of the House, and said they are inimical to the smooth functioning of Parliament. "Disagreement and intense debate are natural in a democracy, but there is a clear line between democratic discourse and disorder."After he concluded, KC Venugopal of Congress again raised the issue of the notice by LoP seeking permission to speak on LPG crisis. The Speaker told him he has informed the minister concerned in govt, and the LoP will be allowed to raise the issue once he is present in the House.