BJP protests over TDP's 'offensive' remark for PM Modi

Several leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday protested in the Lok Sabha over use of an "offensive" word by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader Jayadev Galla for Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the proceedings of the Opposition's no-confidence motion.

While speaking in Parliament, Galla criticised the Prime Minister for his "empty promises" to the state of Andhra Pradesh. Towards the end of his speech, he used an offensive word in his regional language.

Thereafter, some of the BJP leaders took a stand against Galla's remark for the Prime Minister.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman demanded that the word be expunged from records.

The Narendra Modi-led central government is facing its first no-confidence motion, four years after winning the 2014 mandate as the first single party majority in three decades.

The NDA last faced the no-confidence motion under the leadership of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The Vajpayee-led central government had defeated the motion with an overwhelming majority.

To defeat the no-confidence motion, the BJP would require 268 votes. The NDA at present counts 312 members in the 535-member Lok Sabha, including 274 of the BJP.