Lok Sabha Question Hour washes out as opposition protests on Lalit Modi

NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha failed to transact any business for the second straight day as confrontation between ruling and opposition sides intensified with BJP hitting back at Congress by raking up certain comments of Robert Vadra and demanding action against him for "demeaning" MPs.

All hell broke loose as soon as BJP member Prahlad Joshi referred to Facebook post of Congress President Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law in the House which was already paralysed since yesterday because of opposition demands for resignation of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan over various controversies.

Joshi said Vadra had "demeaned" Parliamentarians and wanted that the issue be referred to the Privileges Committee of Parliament and he be brought before the House.

His remark angered Sonia Gandhi who rose to protest strongly, leading her party members who intensified their slogan-shouting against the government.

Joshi's remarks added fuel to the fire as the Congress members had already stormed the Well of the House, continuing with their demands for resignation of Swaraj and Raje in connection with Lalit Modi controversy and that of Chouhan over Vyapam scam. "No resignation, no discussion", they kept shouting.

Amid the din, Leader of Congress in the House Mallikarjun Kharge went to Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to say that Joshi's remarks should be immediately expunged as Vadra is not a member of the House.

Vadra, in the Facebook post, had taken a dig at the NDA government without naming it before the Monsoon session began on July 21. "Parliament begins and so do their petty diversionary political tactics... People of India are not fooled. Regret to see India led by such so-called leaders !!," Vadra had said in his post.

The din created by the war of slogan-shouting forced the Speaker to adjourn the House for the day, minutes past noon. Earlier also, the House was adjourned immediately after it met at 11 AM.