House run in 'non-democratic' style: Rahul after Birla's edict on conduct

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla's instruction to Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi asking the latter to maintain "good conduct" in Parliament triggered a fresh row on Wednesday, with Gandhi alleging that the House is being run "in an absolute non-democratic style".

- HT Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Some Congress leaders also lodged a protest over Gandhi not being allowed to reply to the Speaker's comment.

Around 1 pm on Wednesday, Birla made a suo-motu observation asking MPs to maintain high standards. He called out Gandhi to remind him of Rule 349 of the House. Birla didn't elaborate and it wasn't clear why he felt the need to remind the Leader of the Opposition of the rules. Hours later, BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya posted a clip from the Lok Sabha that showed Gandhi displaying his affection for his sister and MP Priyanka Gandhi (he cupped her chin). "It is disgraceful that the Lok Sabha Speaker has to remind Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition, about basic parliamentary decorum. The fact that Congress has imposed this puerile man upon us is truly unfortunate," Malviya said on X.

It was not clear how a brother's display of affection towards his sister amounted to a breach of rules in the House.