New Delhi, April 4, 2025 – Opposition leaders boycotted a customary tea hosted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Friday, marking the end of the Budget Session that concluded with 26 sittings since January 31. The move, led by Congress MP Manickam Tagore, signaled deep discontent with Birla’s conduct, with Tagore posting on X, “Again in Lok Sabha, all opposition leaders boycotted the tea by Hon Speaker. Hope neutrality comes back in session,” as reported by Hindustan Times.
The boycott followed a tumultuous session, highlighted by the Waqf (Amendment) Bill’s passage at 2 AM with 288 votes to 232 after a 12-hour debate. Opposition MPs, including from Congress, TMC, and Samajwadi Party, have accused Birla of bias toward the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a charge reignited by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s claim of being silenced during Modi’s Mahakumbh remarks on March 25. Tagore’s X post at 1:11 PM IST echoed this, framing the boycott as a plea for impartiality.
Birla, in his closing remarks, touted the session’s 118% productivity—26 sittings against a planned 22—surpassing the 17th Lok Sabha’s 97% record. “The House worked beyond midnight to pass key bills,” he said, per live updates, defending his stewardship. Yet, opposition grievances persisted—Gandhi’s March 26 allegation of “undemocratic” proceedings and a March 27 INDIA bloc letter to Birla over microphone cuts fueled the rift. Congress sources say 70 MPs met Birla last week, demanding fair speaking time, a plea he dismissed citing procedural norms.
