Ruckus in Rajya Sabha over PM's remark during foreign tour

The Rajya Sabha witnessed a ruckus on Tuesday over comments by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent three-nation tour.

The house saw both treasury and opposition benches raise the pitch, necessitating three adjournments in the pre-lunch session.

Raising the issue soon after the house met, Congress leader Anand Sharma said the comments made by the prime minister were an insult to the nation. He was supported by the entire opposition.

"PM said some things which need clarification... All prime ministers maintained a tradition... when they go out they go as the prime minister of the nation. Opposition also follows a tradition, when prime minister is out of nation opposition does not criticise him," Sharma said.

"In Canada he said India was 'scam India'... India cannot be a scam. There can be some mistake but country cannot be scam. He said it is dirt of 60 years he is responsible for cleaning. He reduced dignity of his post and he has insulted every previous PM," said Sharma who had also given a notice to suspend the house business for a discussion on the issue.

"He goes out of the country as the PM of India, not as a BJP leader," said Sharma, even as ruling party members protested.

Sharma was joined by Janata Dal-United leader Sharad Yadav, Samajwadi Party leader Ramgopal Yadav, Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati, Trinamool Congress leader Sukhendu Shekhar Roy, and Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Tapan Kumar Sen who all objected to the language used by the prime minister during recent foreign tours.

Leader of House Arun Jaitley, however, said if the comments of prime minister are discussed, the scams too will have to be discussed.

"PM makes a statement we are trying to clean up decision making process - I understand Congress is upset with cleaning up," Jaitley said.

"If we discuss it, all scams that happened in last 60 years will be discussed," he said.

Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien then disallowed the notice for discussion, after which Congress members trooped near the chairman's podium.

The house was then adjourned till noon.

However, as protests continued during the question hour, Chairman M. Hamid Ansari first adjourned the house for 15 minutes, and then till 2 p.m.

Modi, during his visit to Canada had attacked the previous UPA government at a gathering of Indians in Toronto as he promised to clean up the "mess left behind" and change India's image from one of "scamsa to that of a "skilled" India.