"Unfortunate...": Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi over Rahul Gandhi's claims over Parliament speech restriction

New Delhi [India], March 27 (ANI): Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi attacked the central government for allegedly not allowing Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to speak in Parliament, calling it "extremely unfortunate."
"What was extremely unfortunate and has become almost a repeat narrative from BJP, whenever they don't want House to function, they come out with most ridiculous charges...even last time the both the Houses got adjourned, nobody knew why...he is the LoP...he has the right to respond," Chaturvedi told ANI.
Earlier today, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said that if LoP is not allowed to speak in Lok Sabha then it is a dangerous time for democracy.
Speaking to the ANI, Raut said, "Rahul Gandhi is Lok Sabha LoP... If such a leader is not allowed to speak inside the Parliament by the Speaker, then it is a dangerous time for democracy. Then why are you conducting Parliament if you have to silence the opposition?"
He further emphasized the role of the opposition in a democracy, stating, "Opposition is the voice of democracy. If you silence that voice, then one day you will lock the Parliament."
The reaction comes after, Gandhi, who is Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, on Wednesday alleged that he was not allowed to speak in the House.
The LoP claimed that it was an "unsubstantiated remark" about him and that there is a convention that the Leader of Opposition is allowed to speak when he rises to do so.
"I don't know what is going on...I requested him to let me speak...This is no way to run the House. Speaker just left and he did not let me speak...he said something unsubstantiated about me...he adjourned the House, there was no need...it is a convention, LoP is given time to speak. Whenever I stand up, I am stopped from speaking...I did nothing, I was quietly sitting," Rahul Gandhi told reporters.
He said that in a democracy, there is a place for government and opposition, but here, "there is no place for opposition".
Rahul Gandhi said that he wanted to speak on the Maha Kumbh Mela and unemployment, but he was not allowed to speak.
"Prime Minister ji spoke on Maha Kumbh and I also wanted to speak on (Maha) Kumbh Mela. I wanted to say that Kumbh Mela was very good. I also wanted to speak on unemployment but I wasn't allowed. I don't know what the approach and thinking of the Speaker are, but the truth is we were not allowed," he said. (ANI)