New Delhi, March 11 -- The Opposition's bid to remove Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla failed on Wednesday as the no-confidence motion against him was defeated by a voice vote amid loud protests by Congress members against Union home minister Amit Shah's sharp attack on Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi. In his speech, Shah slammed the Opposition for moving the resolution and said the "regretful" move came for the first time in nearly four decades. He also alleged that Gandhi was frequently absent from the House, didn't participate in key proceedings including discussions on the President's address and the Union Budget, and chose to travel abroad during sessions. "The LoP has been complaining that he is not allowed to speak. It's not the ruling party or the Speaker who decided the duration to be allotted to each Speaker, but the concerned party. But instead of this.he leaves the country and goes abroad," he said. "In terms of seats, Om Birla gave the Congress six times more speaking time than the BJP. A no-confidence motion was brought against the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, yet their Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi,himself did not speak on it," he added. Shah's tirade against Gandhi and use of an unparliamentary word led to Congress MPs rising in protest and demanding an apology even as Jagdambika Pal, who was presiding over the proceedings, assured that the word would be examined and expunged. Shah said the BJP was in the Opposition longer than it had been in power but never moved or supported a motion against the Speaker. "We have been in the Opposition, and three times a no-confidence motion against the Lok Sabha Speaker has been brought, but the Bharatiya Janata Party and the NDA, while in the opposition, never brought a no-confidence motion against the Lok Sabha Speaker.We have worked to protect the dignity of the Speaker's position and have also demanded protection from the Speaker for our legal rights and constitutional rights," hesaid. Shah was referring to the no confidence motions against GV Mavalankar in 1954, Hukam Singh in 1966, and Balram Jakhar in 1987. Shah took a swipe at the opposition parties and said while the motions against Mavalankar and Singh were moved by the socialists and the Samajwadi Party, the Communist Party of India moved the motion against Jakhar. "...Today all these parties are part of the ghamandi gathbandhan ..." he said, referring to the INDIA bloc of opposition parties. Questioning the intent behind the Speaker's ruling, which is binding on the members, casts a shadow on democracy, Shah said. "For 75 years, these two Houses have deepened the foundation of our democracy, but today the Opposition has, in a way, cast a question mark on this credibility.The House proceedings are conducted on the basis of mutual trust and as per rules. The Speaker serves as a neutral custodian, representing both the ruling party and the Opposition," he said. The no-confidence motion was moved by Congress MP Mohammad Jawed against Birla for his alleged partisanship, not allowing the LoP to raise important issues pertaining to the country's security, and the suspension of over 100 Opposition MPs during previous sessions. Shah, however, denied all these allegations, and said that issues have to be raised within the ambit of the laid-down rules and that no member has the right to speak in a manner the House rules do not permit. "Specific rules have been created by Lok Sabha to guide how the Speaker should conduct the sessions. This House is not a marketplace; members are expected to speak and participate according to its rules and procedures.The House runs on mutual trust. For both the ruling side and the Opposition-the Speakers of the House serve as custodians," he said. "He [Gandhi] suddenly had an idea -- to have a debate on his own press conference. This is not a market. This is the Lok Sabha. Topics for debate are formally decided here. From your great-grandfather to your grandmother to your father, there were tall leaders in India, but the Lok Sabha never had a debate on anyone's press conference," Shah added. The home minister said that while disagreement with the Speaker's decision may be expressed, under the rules of the Lok Sabha, the Speaker's decisions are considered final. "This Lok Sabha is the greatest panchayat of India's democracy, and not only in India but across the world, the reputation and dignity of our democracy have been established...But when questions are raised against the head of this panchayat, against his loyalty, it raises doubts not only in the country but across the world about our democratic process," he said....