Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday (February 3, 2026) wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, lodging his strong protest for disallowing him to speak in the House on a matter of national security and terming it a "blot" on our democracy.
In his letter to Mr. Birla, the Congress leader noted that while speaking on the Motion on the President's address on Monday (February 2, 2026), the Speaker had directed him to authenticate a magazine which he intended to refer to while raising the India-China conflict of 2020.
Mr. Gandhi said that, as per long-standing convention, including repeated rulings of past Speakers, a member wishing to refer to a document in the House is required to authenticate it and affirm responsibility for its contents, which he did.
Rahul Gandhi-Om Birla face off: Rule 349 silent on published or unpublished texts, says expert
Thereafter, Mr. Gandhi said, the Speaker allows the member to quote or refer to the document, and it becomes the responsibility of the government to respond, and the role of the Chair stands concluded.
