Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan defended her decision of not granting Leader of Opposition [LoP] to the Congress which has been demanding from one day. When the pressperson approached Sumitra and asked her about Supreme Court's statement, she replied “Supreme Court has asked the government to respond on LoP and as Lok Sabha Speaker, I have nothing to do with it. As per the Constitution, Congress cannot be given LoP.”

The Speaker also pointed out that in 1980 and 1984, there was no Leader of Opposition in the House because no party had the required strength. The Apex court questioned the government yesterday about  LoP issue, an important component in the selection of statutory bodies.

(AW: Vamshi)