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Amid a contention implicit Congress person Rahul Gandhi quoting from an unpublished "memoir" of erstwhile Army main M.M. Naravane successful Parliament, an adept connected Parliamentary procedures connected Tuesday (February 3, 2026) said Rule 349 bars members from speechmaking from immoderate book, paper oregon missive but successful transportation with the concern of the House. However, the Rule does not elaborate astir published oregon unpublished.
The Lok Sabha connected Monday (February 2, 2026) saw a basal disconnected betwixt Speaker Om Birla and Mr. Gandhi erstwhile the Speaker disallowed the Leader of the Opposition to punctuation from the unpublished memoir of the erstwhile Army main connected the 2020 India-China struggle citing a House rule.
Speaker Birla cited Rule 349 to disallow Mr. Gandhi from quoting from the retired general's unpublished memoir. "Rules to beryllium observed by members successful House" falls nether Rule 349. The regularisation has 23 sub-clauses dealing with a assortment of issues.
Sub-clause 1 deals with members quoting from documents. "Whilst the House is sitting, a subordinate (i) shall not work immoderate book, paper oregon missive but successful transportation with the concern of the House," it reads.
"It besides means that a subordinate tin notation to immoderate of these if it is successful transportation with the concern of the House," erstwhile Lok Sabha caput wide P.D.T. Achary told PTI. He said portion the regularisation is "negatively framed", it has a "positive meaning" besides which allows members to punctuation from papers if they are applicable to the concern of the House.
“On Monday (February 2, 2026), the concern earlier the House was Motion of Thanks connected the President's code which whitethorn person referred to overseas argumentation oregon relations,” helium said.
He underlined that though it is not successful the rule, Speakers person ruled successful the past that members who privation to punctuation thing successful the House should authenticate it. "He oregon she has to notation that they basal by it and besides verify the contented of the papers being quoted," the constitution adept said.
Acccording to Mr. Achary, erstwhile the papers is authenticated, the Speaker allows the subordinate to punctuation it. Then it go the work of the authorities to respond and the relation of the Speaker ends.
He cautioned that the House should lone beryllium told the information and a subordinate who quotes from an incorrect oregon fake papers is held responsible. "A privilege question tin beryllium moved against the member," helium underlined.
When Mr. Gandhi started quoting the from unpublished book, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh questioned arsenic to however worldly which is not published tin beryllium cited successful the House.
The House saw repeated adjournments arsenic the Congress person sought to punctuation from a quality study which carried the excerpts from the unpublished memoir contempt Speaker disallowing him.
While Mr. Gandhi said the authorities is "afraid" of a enactment that helium wants to punctuation from the publication and asserted that helium would authorities that enactment successful the Lower House, the BJP alleged that the Congress person undermined the dignity of Parliament and wounded the morale of the Indian soldiers with his mendacious accusations, successful defiance of Speaker Birla's ruling.
The ruling party's leaders, including Ministers, asked Mr. Gandhi to halt "speaking the connection of anti-India elements".
