Rahul Gandhi’s Response to Speaker Om Birla’s Remark in Lok Sabha: “You Must Not Bow Down

During a session in Lok Sabha, Mr. Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition, made a speech responding to the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address. He reflected on a recent incident involving Mr. Birla, who had been elected as Speaker for the second time. Mr. Gandhi recounted how both he and Prime Minister Modi had greeted Mr. Birla after his election. He noted that Mr. Birla stood straight when shaking his hand, but bowed when shaking hands with Prime Minister Modi, which garnered a strong reaction from the Opposition and the treasury benches.

In response to Mr. Gandhi’s remarks, Mr. Birla emphasized his values, stating that he believes in showing respect to those elder to him and treating equals as equals. Mr. Gandhi acknowledged Mr. Birla’s response but also expressed his belief that Mr. Birla, as the Speaker, deserves the highest respect from everyone in the House. The tension in the Lok Sabha escalated when Mr. Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the BJP and its ideological mentor, the RSS, leading to Prime Minister Modi accusing him of insulting Hindus. Mr. Gandhi clarified that his criticism was directed at the BJP and the RSS specifically, not the entire Hindu community.

The exchange led to heightened drama in the Lok Sabha during Mr. Gandhi’s address, exemplifying the intense dynamics within the political arena.