Gaurav Gogoi sent in ahead of Rahul Gandhi, tweaked line-up sparks drama | India News – Times of India
The line-up came as a surprise after the excitement that had built up about Rahul firing the first salvo, and led BJP to question the “last-minute” change.
Heated exchanges followed, especially after Gogoi suggested that what had transpired during a closed-door meeting between Congress’s floor managers and the Speaker had been leaked. “I can also reveal how many times the Speaker had meetings with the PM,” he said.
The charge drew a strong response from home minister Amit Shah, who challenged the Congress member to make good his disclosure threat. “Aap jaroor bataiye (please reveal),” Shah said, asserting that Gogoi was making a serious allegation and he ought to back it up in public with proof.
“You must tell… These are serious allegations,” Shah said, leading Gogoi to explain that they trust the Speaker’s office not to disclose details of any discussion.
This did not go down well with Speaker Om Birla, who asked the Congress MP to refrain from “speaking anything which is far from true”.
Sources said Congress had initially given a list of 19 speakers and Rahul Gandhi was on top of that list. However, the party sent a revised list a few minutes later in which Gandhi’s name was omitted. Political observers said the switch could be because Gogoi was chosen as the opening Speaker as he had given the notice of no-trust.
“The fact that he is from Assam also made him the right choice, considering that the focus of the opposition’s attack is on the situation in Manipur” was the conjecture in political circles. Moreover, Rahul was not a member when the motion of no-confidence was moved.
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Rahul Gandhi has valuable perspective which we look forward to hear: Gaurav Gogoi
As soon as Gogoi rose as the first speaker on the motion, parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi said, “What changed in five minutes, we were enthusiastic to listen to him (Rahul).”
Joshi said, “As per my information, I came to know that a letter has arrived that Rahul Gandhi will speak in place of Gaurav Gogoi. What happened sir, we were waiting for his speech. What has happened as the letter came at 11.55am. Let us understand what has happened in 5 minutes. What is the problem?”
Responding to Joshi, Gogoi said, “What discussions take place in the meeting of yours (Speaker) with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we never ask.”
Joshi said he had raised the matter, which is in public domain. Leader of Congress in the House Adhir Ranjan Choudhary said, “Congress bowled a googly and bowled you (BJP) out.”
Watch Amit Shah loses cool as Gaurav Gogoi threatens to reveal PM Modi’s ‘secret talk’
