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New Delhi: The no-confidence motion brought against Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla was defeated by a voice vote on Wednesday (March 11) amid an uproar by opposition benches demanding an apology from Union home minister Amit Shah for using unparliamentary language.

While the motion was brought by opposition MPs accusing Birla of being “partisan”, the treasury benches, including Shah in his reply, focused much of their speeches in attacking leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not present in the house during both days of the debate.

Shah, who delivered the reply to the debate, did not make any mention of Modi’s absence, sought to focus on Gandhi’s low attendance in parliament and foreign trips during parliament sessions, and said that he is not present in the House but alleges he is not allowed to speak.

He also defended Birla citing his “high moral ground” and said that the BJP had never, even while in the opposition, brought a no-confidence motion against the speaker.

Shah during his reply inadvertently used the word “saala”, leading to uproar from the opposition benches.

In December while speaking during the debate on electoral reforms Shah had let the same word slip.

While BJP MP Jagdambika Pal was presiding over the proceedings on Wednesday, it was only after Shah himself said that if he had used any unparliamentary words they may be expunged that Pal said he would have it removed.

Opposition members raised slogans demanding an apology from Shah and the motion against Birla was subsequently defeated in the din by a voice vote.

During the debate, opposition members referred to various instances when Birla as speaker acted in a “partisan” manner, including the unprecedented........

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