Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla expressed deep concern over the turmoil that forced the Lower House to adjourn shortly before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s planned speech on Wednesday, revealing that he personally recommended the Prime Minister avoid entering Parliament due to security and decorum concerns.

Birla said he had received advance inputs indicating that certain Opposition members, particularly from the Congress, might attempt to disrupt proceedings during the Prime Minister’s address. According to the Speaker, some MPs had already displayed inappropriate conduct inside the chamber, heightening fears of a serious incident.

He warned that any confrontation near the Prime Minister’s seat could have resulted in an embarrassing and potentially dangerous situation for the country. “If something had gone wrong, it would have harmed the dignity of Parliament and the nation,” Birla said, adding that his advice to the Prime Minister was aimed at preventing escalation.

Calling the episode unprecedented, the Speaker described the disruptions as a “dark chapter” in parliamentary history and criticised the practice of dragging political rivalries into the Speaker’s domain, which he said goes against long-standing democratic traditions.

The unrest stemmed from continuing clashes over Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi’s attempt to reference an unpublished memoir by former Army chief General M.M. Naravane — a move objected to by senior BJP leaders, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah.

Tensions flared again when BJP MP Nishikant Dubey quoted from various controversial books, making remarks about former prime ministers and members of the Gandhi family. Acting Chair Krishna Prasad Tenneti intervened, citing parliamentary rules that restrict quoting from books not directly related to House business.

Dubey’s remarks provoked loud protests from Congress and other Opposition MPs, who gathered in the Well of the House, forcing repeated adjournments. Opposition members later met Speaker Birla, accusing the Chair of inconsistent enforcement of House rules.

Throughout the day, the Lok Sabha was adjourned multiple times amid protests linked to the Army chief’s book and the India–US trade agreement. When the House reconvened in the evening, demonstrations intensified, with women MPs from the Opposition marching toward the Prime Minister’s seat.

With disorder continuing, the Chair adjourned proceedings for the remainder of the day.