‘Am I allowed to speak?’: Rahul Gandhi–Rijiju showdown forces Lok Sabha adjournment | WATCH

New Delhi: The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day on Monday following a heated stand-off between the government and the Opposition after Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi demanded that he be allowed to speak before the Budget discussion.

Raising the issue in the House, Rahul Gandhi said the Speaker had assured the Opposition that he would be given time to present his points before the debate began. “An hour ago, a Member of the House went to the Speaker, the Speaker committed to us that I will be allowed to speak here and raise some points before the budget discussion. Now, you are going back on your word. So I'd like to know, am I allowed to speak those points or not?” he questioned.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, however, disputed the claim, saying no such firm commitment had been made. “What Rahul Gandhi ji said just now is not 100 per cent correct. The Speaker has not made a commitment. The Speaker said that if an agreement is reached, then we will allow you to speak, and we will also allow the leaders of other parties to speak. He did not say that we will only give the floor to the Congress,” Rijiju clarified.

The disagreement led to repeated disruptions, forcing the adjournment of the House for the day, halting the scheduled Budget discussion.

Reacting to the adjournment, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticised the government, calling the situation “very sad” and “undemocratic.” “The Leader of the Opposition is not allowed to speak even for one minute. It is ridiculous. This is not democracy. What are we coming here for? They should allow him to speak,” she said.