“Speaker sir, there are two people sitting in that chair. There is the Speaker of Lok Sabha, the Speaker of Indian Union, and there is Mr Om Birla. When Modi-ji went and shook your hand and I went to shake your hand, I noticed something. When I shook your hand, you stood straight and when Modi-ji shook your hand you bowed down,” Rahul said.

To this, Birla said his culture and values have taught him to respect elders. “The Prime Minister is the leader of this House and my culture, my values tell me this in personal life, in public life and even on this seat — bow down and salute those who are elder to you… And behave respectfully with those who are of equal status… I am saying this from the Chair that bow down to elders and if necessary, touch their feet and respect those who are younger than you. This is our culture and values and I follow it,” the Speaker said.

Replying, Rahul said, “I accept your point respectfully but I want to say that the Speaker is the tallest figure in this House and we all should bow down in front of the Speaker.”

“This is democracy, and you are the leader of this House. You should not bow down in front of anyone,” he said, adding that the Speaker is the custodian of the House.

During his speech, Rahul held up an image of Lord Shiva, seeking the Speaker’s permission to speak on it. Birla stopped him, saying, “You said that the House should run by rules. As per the rules of procedure, no placard or symbol can be displayed in the House.”

When the Speaker asked Rahul not to display placards in the House, the Congress MP asked whether he was allowed to show the image of Lord Shiva to the House or not. “There, pictures of other things can be displayed but not Lord Shiva’s picture,” Rahul said, pointing towards the Treasury Benches. “This picture is in the heart of everyone in the country,” Rahul said.

“Please worship them, please don’t put them on the table like that,” the Speaker said.