'Allow us to speak..': Rahul Gandhi's appeal to Speaker Om Birla

In his first remarks in the 18th Lok Sabha, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi made an appeal to Speaker Om Birla. "I am confident that you will allow us to represent our voice, allow us to speak, allow us to represent the voice of the people of India," Gandhi said.

"The idea that you can run the House efficiently by silencing the voice of the Opposition is a non-democratic idea. This election has shown that the people of India expect the opposition to defend the constitution, the 'Samvidhan' of this country," he added.

Gandhi, who has been picked as the Leader of the Opposition, was speaking after Birla was elected as the Speaker of the chamber on Wednesday.

In a bipartisan moment, Gandhi accompained PM Narendra Modi in escorting Birla to the Speaker's chair in Lok Sabha. The House elected Birla with a voice vote after opposition parties fielded Congress member K Suresh as its choice for the post.

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