Politics

‘You don’t want the House to function’: Om Birla’s blunt message to Opposition

Om Birla criticises Opposition MPs for sloganeering and protests as the Lok Sabha continues to face disruptions during the Monsoon Session

PGurus Newsdesk

August 7, 2026

Parliament chaos: Speaker Birla tells Opposition to stop disrupting House proceedings

Opposition protests over police action against students continue to disrupt Parliament despite repeated appeals from the Speaker

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Friday came down heavily on Opposition members for repeatedly disrupting proceedings, accusing them of preventing the House from carrying out its constitutional responsibilities.

As Opposition MPs raised slogans and continued their protest, Birla urged them to return to their seats and allow the Question Hour to proceed. He questioned the continued disruptions and said Parliament could not function if members resorted to sloganeering and displaying placards.

The Speaker’s remarks came amid a continuing logjam in the Lok Sabha during the Monsoon Session, with the Opposition demanding answers from the government over the police action against students protesting against alleged examination irregularities. The Opposition has also been pressing for the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Parliament.

Birla questions Opposition’s approach

Birla reminded the protesting MPs that Question Hour is an important component of parliamentary proceedings, providing members an opportunity to raise issues concerning their constituencies and seek answers from the government.

He said several MPs had approached him over the inability to raise questions because of the repeated disruptions.

The Speaker also objected to the use of placards and banners inside the House, saying such conduct undermines parliamentary conventions and the dignity of the institution.

Birla has repeatedly appealed to both the ruling and Opposition benches to ensure that Parliament functions through debate and discussion rather than sloganeering.

Opposition protests continue

The latest disruption came against the backdrop of sustained Opposition protests over the government’s handling of student demonstrations.

Opposition parties have demanded accountability over the police action against students who took part in protests in Delhi. They have also sought a statement from Amit Shah on the issue.

The protests have repeatedly forced adjournments and disrupted normal legislative business.

The Lok Sabha had also witnessed similar scenes on Thursday, when persistent sloganeering prevented the Question Hour from being conducted. Birla subsequently adjourned the House amid the continuing uproar.

Centre pushes ahead despite disruptions

The disruptions have not completely halted the government’s legislative agenda. Several bills have been passed amid Opposition protests, with the Centre moving ahead with its legislative programme despite the continuing deadlock.

The situation has also prompted efforts to break the stalemate. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has been reaching out to Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, in an attempt to restore normal functioning in Parliament.

With only a few days left in the Monsoon Session, the confrontation between the government and Opposition is likely to remain intense, putting renewed focus on whether Parliament can return to substantive debate instead of repeated disruptions.

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