Never allowed to speak, as LoP it is my right: Rahul Gandhi

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Monday said as the Leader of Opposition (LOP) in the Lok Sabha, it was his right to speak in the House, but he was not being allowed to do so, while the "people of the government" were making their statements.

Gandhi made the remarks to the media after the House witnessed protests by the Opposition and was adjourned for the second time in the day.

The Lok Sabha witnessed noisy protests by Opposition parties seeking a discussion on Operation Sindoor on the first day of the monsoon session of Parliament.

"The question is that the defence minister and their (the BJP's) people are allowed to speak, but if someone from the Opposition wants to say something, they are not allowed," Gandhi said.

"I am the Leader of Opposition, it is my right, I am never allowed to speak," he said, adding that this was a "new approach".

Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gandhi said he "ran out of the House in a second".

"The debate will happen if they allow it, but the issue is that... convention dictates that if the people from the government say something, we should also be given space. We wanted to say a few words, but the Opposition was not allowed," he said.

Earlier, after obituary references, Opposition members led by the Congress were on their feet as they insisted on a discussion on Operation Sindoor, under which Indian armed forces carried out attacks on Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack.

Speaker Om Birla said he was ready to allow the members to raise all issues, including Operation Sindoor, after Question Hour, the first hour of the day, where members raise questions related to different ministries and departments.

"I will allow you to raise all issues after Question Hour. The House will function only through rules and regulations. It cannot allow sloganeering and raising of placards," he said.

Birla said if the members gave notice, he would allow them to raise all issues and would give enough time to each MP.

Earlier, the House paid tributes to eight former MPs who passed away in the recent past. The House also paid tributes to the 26 people killed in the terror attack at Pahalgam on 22 April, and the 260 killed in a plane crash in Ahmedabad on 12 June.

The speaker also mentioned the recent successful space mission under which Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla returned from the International Space Station after spending 18 days there. He also congratulated the Indian Space Research Organisation and Shukla.

Birla said the House would also hold a detailed discussion on the space mission during the session.