Om Birla's appeal for decorum in house yields no result

The row over Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's remarks in London on "disappearing" democracy in India continued to rock the Lok Sabha for the second consecutive day on Tuesday.

As soon as the Lower House assembled at 11 am, BJP MPs raised slogans demanding an apology from Gandhi while Congress members waved placards with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks from his speeches abroad.

"BRICS ka 'I' ludhak raha hai (the 'I' in BRICS is tottering)," read one placard, referring to the grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Another placard referred to Modi's 2015 speech in Seoul where he reportedly said, "Pata nahin pehle janam mein kya paap kiya tha, Hindustan main paida hua (I don't know what sin I committed in the past birth that I was born in India)."


As BJP members, including ministers, raised slogans, the Opposition avoided trooping into the well of the House. Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla appealed to all members to maintain decorum of the House and tried to run the question hour. "I will give the opportunity to raise issues after question hour. Question hour is an important part of parliamentary proceedings. I will give you adequate opportunities, but after question hour," he said.

However, since there was no order, Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm. When the House reassembled, the pandemonium continued and the House was adjourned till Wednesday.

Gandhi's remarks in London had led to disruptions on Monday also. Gandhi recently alleged in London that institutions in Indian democracy were under attack and there was a full-scale assault on the institutions in the country.