Congress seeks apology from BJP MP for remarks against Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi: Congress members on Thursday disrupted proceedings of Lok Sabha demanding an apology from a Bharatiya Janata Party member for making "objectionable" remarks against party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Jyotiraditya Scindia, forcing adjournment of the House for nearly 25 minutes.

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan's assertion that the remarks have been expunged and she has warned the member did not help as Congress members rushed to the Well and raised slogans when the House took up Question Hour.

Soon after the House met for the day, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan disallowed an adjournment motion by Congress members on the remarks of BJP MP from Bhadoi, Virendra Singh, made on Wednesday.

Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said the remarks made by Singh against Rahul, Scindia and former Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi were "objectionable in nature and shocking".

"We saw shocking behaviour when ruling party members, including ministers, were encouraging him," he said.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said Congress members were creating disorder. "They (Congress) hurled papers on the Deputy Speaker (yesterday), should action not be taken against them...you called Prime Minister, who is the darling of the masses, Hitler. Is that okay," he said.

As the war of words between Kharge and Naidu continued, Trinamool Congress leader Sudip Bandopadhyay said what transpired in the House on Wednesday when the BJP member made the remarks should not recur and both Treasury and Opposition members should face action.

Agreeing with the stand taken by the TMC leader, Speaker warned Singh that what he said was "wrong". When Singh wanted to say something, he was snubbed by the Chair and asked to sit down.

She also warned Congress against dragging the issue, saying they may also have to seek an apology for throwing papers at the Deputy Speaker.

As the Congress protests continued, Speaker adjourned the House for nearly 25 minutes.

After the House met again, the Congress protest continued, but the Question Hour went on amidst the din.