In response to the Opposition's outcry over the addition of new words to the list of "unparliamentary words," Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla clarified that no words have been banned and that MPs still retain the right to express their views in Parliament. He explained that the practice of expunging certain words has been in place since 1959, and words used by both the ruling and Opposition benches have been expunged in the past.
Birla emphasized that the right to expunge words lies with the presiding officer, and MPs are free to express their views within the decorum of Parliament. He also mentioned that previously, a book containing these words was released, but now, it has been made available online to avoid wastage of paper.
Despite Birla's clarification, the Opposition continued to express concern, accusing the government of imposing a "gag order." Congress leader Jairam Ramesh questioned the media's ability to report on the new words and suggested that the print media might hesitate to use them in their articles.
The controversy erupted over a list of words that would be expunged if used during debates in Parliament, including terms like "jumlajeevi," "Covid-spreader," "Snoopgate," "Shakuni," "dictatorial," and "Khalistani." Opposition members, including Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and Trinamool Congress members like Derek O’Brien and Mahua Moitra, criticized the list as an attempt to stifle free expression, particularly words used to describe the government's actions or leadership.
O’Brien and Moitra, in particular, voiced their defiance, with Moitra questioning the absence of the word "Sanghi" from the list and calling it a move by the ruling government to restrict words used to critique their governance.