"Such great speakers in opposition, how long will you stop everyone?": TMC's Shatrughan after Rahul Gandhi's allegation on LS Speaker
Mar 26, 2025

New Delhi [India], March 26 : After Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi alleged that he was not allowed to speak in the House on Wednesday, Trinamool Congress MP Shatrughan Sinha expressed his support for Gandhi and called the incident "shameful" and "condemnable."
Speaking to ANI, Sinha questioned how long the government would continue to suppress the voices of capable opposition leaders, adding that this behavior could not fool the people forever.
"Rahul Gandhi told the truth. He is our LoP. He is capable and speaks well. This is not the first time he was not allowed to speak. Today also, he wasn't allowed. This is shameful, wrong and condemnable. I respect the Speaker but no idea under what pressure he is in," the TMC MP said.
"But how long will you keep doing this? There are such great speakers in the opposition, how long will you stop everyone? You can't fool people all the time," Shatrughan Sinha said.
Earlier today, LoP Rahul Gandhi claimed that it was an "unsubstantiated remark" about him and that there is a convention that the Leader of Opposition is allowed to speak when he rises to do so.
"I don't know what is going on...I requested him to let me speak...This is no way to run the House. Speaker just left and he did not let me speak...he said something unsubstantiated about me...he adjourned the House, there was no need...it is a convention, LoP is given time to speak. Whenever I stand up, I am stopped from speaking...I did nothing, I was quietly sitting," Rahul Gandhi told reporters.
He said that in a democracy, there is a place for government and opposition, but here, "there is no place for opposition".
Rahul Gandhi said that he wanted to speak on the Maha Kumbh Mela and unemployment, but he was not allowed to speak.
"Prime Minister ji spoke on Maha Kumbh and I also wanted to speak on (Maha) Kumbh Mela. I wanted to say that Kumbh Mela was very good. I also wanted to speak on unemployment but I wasn't allowed. I don't know what the approach and thinking of the Speaker are, but the truth is we were not allowed," he added.
Meanwhile, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla asked the Leader of Opposition to follow the rules of the House and maintain the conduct.
"It is expected of you to uphold the high parameters of decorum and sanctity of the House. There are several incidents in my knowledge when MPs conduct was not in accordance with upholding the high parameters of decorum and sanctity of the House. Fathers, daughters, mothers, wife and husbands have been Members of this House. So, in this context, I expect the LoP to conduct as per the rules...It is especially expected of the LoP to maintain their conduct," the Lok Sabha Speaker said and adjourned the House.