Lok Sabha ‘Muted For PM Modi’s Friend’: Congress Levels Fresh Charge Amid Rahul Remarks Row

The Parliament did not function for the fifth consecutive day as the ongoing ruckus continued. The Congress has claimed that the live streaming of the Lok Sabha session was muted amid the sloganeering.

Opposition members protest in the well of the Lok Sabha during Budget Session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Friday, March 17, 2023. ( Image Source :Sansad TV )

The Congress Party, on the defensive due to MP Rahul Gandhi’s recent remarks on Indian democracy, Friday alleged that the live streaming of Lok Sabha proceedings was “muted” for “PM Modi’s friend”. Proceedings of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are broadcast live on Sansad TV.

“Earlier, the mic used to be turned off, today even the proceedings of the House were muted. The house is mute for PM Modi’s friend,” the grand old party tweeted in Hindi.

पहले माइक ऑफ होता था, आज सदन की कार्यवाही ही म्यूट करा दी।

PM मोदी के मित्र के लिए सदन म्यूट है 🔇 pic.twitter.com/EcUpCnIR3E

— Congress (@INCIndia) March 17, 2023

The allegation came as both Houses of Parliament were adjourned for the day due to sloganeering by the opposition and protests by the ruling party members over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s “democracy-under-attack” remarks made in London recently.

This was for the fifth consecutive day when the Parliament did not function ever since the second part of the budget session began on March 13.

While the ruling BJP asks Rahul Gandhi to apologise for his remarks on Indian democracy, Congress leaders demanded that he be allowed to speak in the House to respond to allegations against him which include calling for “foreign intervention” into Indian politics.

Congress MPs are also demanding a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into alleged stock manipulation by the Adani Group, a business conglomerate headed by industrialist Gautam Adani.

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and several other Union ministers were present in the House when the ruckus ensued there.

Opposition Divided Over ‘Mics Turned Off’ Claim

Rahul Gandhi, while speaking in the Grand Committee Room of the British Parliament in London, earlier this month said: "Our mics are not out of order, they are functioning, but you still can't switch them on. That's happened to me a number of times while I am speaking." Gandhi was addressing around 90 people, including Lords, Dames, MPs, academicians, the public, and members of the media.

According to sources, except Congress and DMK, all other opposition parties in a recent all-party meeting refuted Rahul Gandhi’s allegation that Members of Parliament are not allowed to speak in the House and the microphone is turned off.

The Congress and the DMK walked out of the Business Advisory Committee meeting that was convened by the Speaker on March 13 to discuss the proceedings of the Lok Sabha. Leaders of all parties were present. However, Congress party’s Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary and DMK’s TR Baalu walked out following the disagreement, as per sources.

Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar dismissed the accusation saying: “I am Chairman of Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha is a huge panchayat where mics have never been turned off. Someone goes out and says mics are turned off in this nation... yes there was a time during Emergency when mics were turned off”, as quoted by news agency ANI.