When Prime Minister Narendra Modi walked up to take oath as the member of the House on Monday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi showed a copy of the Constitution to the PM.
Explaining the symbolic gesture, Rahul Gandhi accused Narendra Modi of attacking the Constitution by appointing Mahtab as Pro-tem speaker. He said the Opposition would not allow the attack on the Constitution.
"This attack is not acceptable to us," Rahul Gandhi was quoted as saying by the PTI.
The inaugural session of the 18th Lok Sabha also witnessed leaders of the INDIA bloc protesting near the Gandhi statue against the appointment of Pro-tem speaker Bhartruhari Mahtab superseding the claims of eight time MP Kodikunnil Suresh.
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said, "The ruling party hasn't forgotten their haughtiness...we can see that they are ignoring the key subjects of the country...the whole Dalit community in India could witness a historic seen if K Suresh were appointed as Pro-tem Speaker...today, BJP has not just neglected Congress, INDIA alliance and K Suresh but the whole Dalit community in India could witness a historic seen if K Suresh were appointed as Pro-tem Speaker...today, BJP has not just neglected Congress, INDIA alliance and K Suresh but the whole Dalit community..."
Minutes before the start of session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a customary address to the media in the premises of parliament took a dig at opposition over the emergency imposed in the country 50 years ago.
Taking a swipe at Opposition, particularly Congress, albeit indirectly, PM Modi said "For those who are dedicated to the dignity of the Constitution of this country, those who have faith in the democratic traditions of India, June 25 is an unforgettable day".
He said that 25th June will make 50 years since the black spot on India's democracy was marked as emergency.
"The new generation of India will never forget that the Constitution was completely rejected, India was turned into a jail, democracy was completely suppressed and negated during emergency ",he said.
(With inputs from ENS & PTI)