Congress members on Thursday staged a walkout of the Lok Sabha protesting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dig at his predecessor Manmohan Singh in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.
Party Leader in the House Mallikarjun Kharge tried to raise the issue as soon as Zero Hour began but the Speaker disallowed him, saying a matter relating to the other House cannot be raised. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar also said the issue cannot be raised here.
Whatever Modi has said about Manmohan is not good for parliamentary democracy, Kharge said before the Speaker cut him off.
With Congress president Sonia Gandhi looking on, party members trooped into the Well demanding that the Prime Minister apologise for his remarks.
An irate Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said they were snatching away the rights of other members as they have got the chance to speak during the Zero House after several days on Thursday.
Kharge said what Modi had said was an insult to the country.
With the Speaker continuing with Zero Hour proceedings, Congress members staged a walkout.