On Monday, a verbal exchange occurred between Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla when Gandhi questioned the Speaker's behavior towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Gandhi remarked, "I noticed something when you shook my hand. When you shook my hand, you were standing upright. But when you shook Modiji's hand, you bowed down to him." His statement received cheers from the Opposition faction, while NDA MPs objected, prompting Home Minister Amit Shah to stand up and label it an allegation against the chair.

Responding to Gandhi's observation, Speaker Om Birla stated, "Honorable Prime Minister is the leader of the House, and it is in my culture and morals that I bow down when I meet my elders and treat as equal those who are my age." He further added, "My morals are that we bow down to the elders and even touch their feet if need be."

Despite Birla's explanation, Gandhi continued, "I duly, respectfully accept your views, sir, but I want to tell you that there is no one bigger than the Speaker in the House. The Speaker is above all in the House and we should all bow down before him/her." He asserted that he and the entire Opposition bowed down to the Speaker, emphasizing, "You are the Speaker and you should not bow down before anyone."

Gandhi concluded by highlighting the Speaker's authority, stating, "The Speaker is the last word in the Lok Sabha and in that spirit, as members of the House, we are subservient to him."