Birla and Dhankhar dispute opposition MPs' claim of mikes being turned off.

In a recent session, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar addressed the concern raised by opposition members regarding the functioning of their microphones during House proceedings. Both presiding officers clarified that they do not have any control over the microphones of MPs and do not possess a switch or remote control to turn them off.

Birla strongly objected to the accusations made by some members in Lok Sabha, stating that it was a matter of great concern for the dignity of the Chair. He also stressed on the fact that the Chair only gives directives and the member whose name is called gets to speak, and the microphone is controlled accordingly. He further pointed out that all political parties have representation on the panel of chairpersons who preside over the proceedings in the absence of the Speaker.

The Speaker also addressed senior Congress leader, Suresh, who also occupies the Chair, and questioned if the Chair had control over the microphones. The issue was also raised by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi during the debate on the motion of thanks to the President's address, where he asked who had control over the microphones.

Responding to Gandhi's question, Birla reiterated that he did not have any button to switch off the microphone and that such allegations against the Chair should not be raised. Last week, Gandhi had claimed that his microphone was switched off when he attempted to speak on the issue of NEET irregularities.

In Rajya Sabha, similar concerns were raised by Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge during the motion debate, which prompted Chairman Dhankhar to take strong exception to such statements. He emphasized that no one has the right to shut off a microphone and anyone spreading misconceptions is tainting and demeaning Parliament and its institutions.

During the debate, opposition members also alleged that their voices were scuttled in the previous Lok Sabha, but expressed confidence that it would not happen in the current session as their strength has increased. The presiding officers clarified that the microphones are mechanically controlled and only the person speaking will have their microphone on, a concept which Kharge is well aware of.

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