Prime Minister Narendra Modi today appealed to the opposition members in the Rajya Sabha to allow the business to continue as the Union Minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyothi has already apologised for her remarks. Mr Modi said he had disapproved of her remarks in the Parliamentary Party meeting before the opposition raised the issue. He said the incident is a message for all to maintain decency and decorum in Parliament. The Prime Minister’s appeal came in the backdrop of continued protests by the opposition during the past two days in the Rajya Sabha.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu also requested the members to allow the listed business in view of the Prime Minister’s appeal. He regretted that the proceedings of the house had continuously been disrupted on the issue. Leader of the House Arun Jaitley pleaded with the opposition members to get down to the business as per the Prime Minister’s appeal. Not satisfied with Mr Modi’s request, the opposition members stuck to their demand for removal of the Minister. Congress deputy leader Anand Sharma reiterated his party’s stand for removal of the minister from the Council of Ministers. Sitaram Yechuri of the CPM said her remarks were an insult to the Constitution and she should be sacked. As the din continued, Deputy Chairman P J Kurien adjourned the House till noon. The agitating opposition members continued to disrupt the proceedings soon after the house re-assembled at noon to take up the Question Hour. The repeated pleas by Chairman Mohammad Hamid Ansari for order in the house went unheeded. As the din continued, the Chairman observed that the members behave in an utterly disgraceful manner. He said it was unbecoming of the members, who are repeatedly trooping into the well of the upper house.