The Role and Conduct of Om Birla in Parliament: A Critical Perspective

 The Role and Conduct of Om Birla in Parliament: A Critical Perspective

Remote Controlled Speaker

Om Birla, as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, is expected to uphold the dignity and impartiality of the parliamentary proceedings. However, his actions and conduct often suggest otherwise. It is widely perceived that he operates as a puppet controlled by the BJP leadership, displaying an uncanny ability to discern when to bow and when not to. This perception has not gone unnoticed by the public, both within India and abroad.

In a tradition reminiscent of the White House Correspondents' Dinner in the USA, where a comedian humorously translated President Obama's anger, one might wonder how an anger translator for the opposition parties in India would interpret their frustrations towards Om Birla and the government.

Rahul Gandhi's Encounter

When Rahul Gandhi challenged the Prime Minister on his statement regarding the BJP propagating violence and therefore not being true Hindus, Om Birla's objection seemed misplaced. Gandhi's remark was intended to differentiate between Hindus and the violent ideology he attributed to the BJP. The anger translator version might be:

अबे  तेरा दिमाग खराब तो नहीं है? बुढ़ापे के साथ तेरा दिमाग भी घिस गया है। मालूम है हमें कि तू अनपढ़ है, पर अपने औधे की तो गरिमा रख। मैंने ये कभी नहीं कहा कि हिंदू हिंसक हैं, मैंने कहा कि तुम बीजेपी वाले हिंसक हो, समझ नहीं आता क्या?

The Demonetization Debate

Similarly, when TMC member Banerji raised the issue of demonetization during a discussion on the budget, Om Birla interrupted, insisting the discussion stay relevant to the current budget. Banerji politely reminded him that the ruling party often refers to historical events such as Nehru and Indira Gandhi's emergency period. An anger translator might have said:

अबे ओ तकले, तुम्हें दिखता नहीं जब वो लोग सौ साल पुरानी बातें करते हैं, तब तो तुम्हारे मुँह में क्या भूसा घुसा होता है जो तुम उनको नहीं बोलते। मैं तो इस सरकार की फेल्ड पॉलिसी पे बात कर रहा हूँ जिसमें सैंकड़ों लोग मर गए। खामोश अगर एक भी शब्द बोला इसके आगे।

Om Birla's Role and Responsibilities

Despite the unlikely appearance of such translations in parliament due to procedural decorum, these sentiments reflect the public's perception of Om Birla's partiality. His role demands neutrality, ensuring the government answers the opposition's questions. Yet, he appears to falter at every step, failing to hold the government accountable.

When Modi accused the Congress of receiving truckloads of black money from Adani and Ambani during an election, such allegations, when raised in parliament, should trigger formal investigations. Here, the Speaker's role is crucial, yet Om Birla's apparent lack of autonomy undermines this process, portraying him as a spineless individual serving the BJP's interests.

Modi's Media Complaints

When Modi complained to the media about feeling suffocated by the opposition's refusal to let him speak, an anger translator might respond:

अबे बुड्ढे, ये मन की बात करने का प्लेटफार्म नहीं है। यहाँ जनता के सवालों का जवाब माँग रहे हैं तुमसे। तुम्हारा गला नहीं घोंट रहे, तुमसे सवाल पूछ रहे हैं। तुम्हें गला इसलिए घुटता लगता है क्योंकि तुमने सारा पैसा अपने दोस्तों को दिया है और तुम्हारे पास जवाब नहीं है। और तुम संसद से भागते हो और यहाँ रो रहे हो।

डॉ. मनमोहन सिंह, जिसे तुम क्या-क्या नहीं कहते थे, कभी वो तुम्हारी तरह दुम दबा के नहीं भागे संसद से। उन्होंने जवाब दिए, क्योंकि वो पढ़े-लिखे प्रधानमंत्री थे। ये रोना-धोना बंद करो और जवाब दो जनता के सवालों का।

Conclusion

Modi should consider himself fortunate that he is not subjected to the scrutiny faced by leaders in European nations or North America, where his intelligence and conduct would be rigorously questioned. In India, his rhetoric often goes unchecked, allowing him to escape the accountability expected in modern democracies. The perception of Om Birla's partiality further exacerbates this issue, calling into question the integrity of parliamentary proceedings under his leadership.