Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said on Thursday (February 5, 2026) that he had asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to come to the Lower House to deliver his response to the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address since he had “concrete information” that many Congress MPs could carry out an “unexpected act” of protest at the PM’s seat.
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The House had earlier passed the Motion of Thanks by a voice vote, without Prime Minister’s customary reply, amid vociferous protests by the Opposition over the Indo-U.S. trade deal as well as the Chair “not allowing” Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to make his speech.
Motion passed, amendments rejected
After repeated disruptions from the morning, the Speaker took up the Motion of Thanks and put the amendments moved by the Opposition to vote. They were rejected. Mr. Birla then read out the Motion of Thanks to the President for her address to both Houses of Parliament on January 28, which was passed by a voice vote, even as the Opposition sloganeering continued.
