The leader of opposition had made it clear that he will do whatever it takes to be the voice of people and will question the government on all relevant issues. But there are some concerns that have been in question from past three years. One of the persistent issues that has been carried forward from 17th Lok Sabha is switching off the mike.
The issue of switching off the microphone finally heated up at the beginning of the 18th Lok Sabha, raised by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. Rahul had vigorously brought up the microphone issue both inside and outside Parliament during the 17th Lok Sabha. This topic was also a frequent point of discussion during his travels and public meetings.
He even addressed it abroad, where he faced criticism. Rahul conveyed to the public that he wasn’t allowed to speak in the Lok Sabha, prompting him to raise his voice among the people. Today, once again, Rahul brought up the issue of the microphone being switched off.
In response to this accusation, Speaker Om Birla stated that he does not have any switch to turn off the microphone. “I have told you this before as well,” he reiterated. Addressing Rahul Gandhi, he asserted that Rahul Gandhi, who has been a Member of Parliament since 2004, should know when, why, and where the mic is switched off. Yet, even as the Leader of Opposition, he engaged in typical MP-like politics. Just a day prior, senior MP Deepender Hooda from his party advised the Speaker that he should not have objected. It is surprising because a member is not supposed to give suggestions or instructions to the Speaker.
The Congress, which claims to protect the Constitution, has its members disrespecting it.
The Speaker’s post is the highest in the Lok Sabha, and questions cannot be raised against it. Despite the election results, Congress has been continuously attacking the government, missing no opportunity. What’s surprising is that the 18th Lok Sabha still has five full years to go, but the opposition has adopted a confrontational strategy from the very first session. Whether it’s the election of the Speaker or the oath of MPs, the opposition has been combative.
Today, when the President’s address was to be discussed, Congress created a ruckus by demanding a discussion on NEET. Rahul Gandhi insisted on having the discussion immediately. When the Speaker assured him that he would have a full opportunity to speak during the discussion on the address, the opposition caused further commotion. Amidst this, Rahul brought up the issue of the microphone being switched off, escalating the ruckus.
In reality, the microphones in the Lok Sabha are controlled by the Lok Sabha staff from a central system, adhering to specific rules and regulations. During uproars, after the allotted speaking time is over or when speaking out of turn, the mics are turned off following the Speaker’s warning. The employees cannot switch them off at their own will. Despite this, Congress made the switching off of mics an issue, tying it to the Constitution even after the elections were over.
