LOK Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday skipped the House proceedings in the first half to express displeasure over disruptions and returned post-lunch only after several Opposition leaders met him and assured him that they would maintain the dignity of the Chair. The Speaker had skipped the House proceedings on Wednesday, upset at the repeated disruptions and disrespect towards the Chair by opposition members, particularly during the passage of bills on Tuesday. Birla did not turn up for the Question Hour on Thursday, prompting Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury to make a plea to him to return to the Chair.

 

Several Opposition leaders met Birla in his chamber with an assurance of their cooperation in the conduct of business and upholding the dignity of Lok Sabha. The Speaker returned to the Chair in the post-lunch session when the House took up the Delhi Services Bill for consideration and passing. When BJP leader Rajendra Agarwal assumed the chair during Question Hour, Chowdhury said all the members wanted the Speaker to return. Besides Chowdhury, Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi, TMC’s Saugata Ray, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, NCP leader Supriya Sule, DMK’s Kanimozhi, RSP member N K Premachandran also met the Speaker and assured him their cooperation in upholding the dignity of the House.