Parliament disrupted over MPs forcing man to break fast

Parliament was disrupted Wednesday over the issue of some MPs allegedly forcing a man in Maharashtra Sadan to break his Ramadan fast. The government assured a probe.

In both houses of parliament, opposition members sought a discussion on reports that Shiv Sena MPs forced a Muslim staff member at Maharashtra Sadan here to break his fast.

In the Rajya Sabha, opposition members after the question hour disrupted the proceedings of the house, forcing Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien to adjourn the house for 10 minutes.

During zero hour in the Lok Sabha, a Congress MP from Kerala sought a discussion on the issue.

Shiv Sena MP Anant Geete said that such an incident never took place.

Amid the din, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the house till 12.30 p.m.

In the Rajya Sabha, the issue was later raised by Ali Anwar Ansari of the Janata Dal-United in the zero hour, calling it an insult to Indian culture and social tolerance.

Responding to the members, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Prakash Javadekar said that government will probe the facts.

"These are unsubstantiated reports. We should not take it to the next level. Let us understand what exactly happened," Javadekar said.

Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien then instructed the government to "scertain the facts and come back to the house".