Strict action against MPs involved in 'gassing' of Lok Sabha: Govt

Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde says Telangana bill is now the property of the House

Strongest possible action will be taken against MPs involved in "gassing" of Lok Sabha today as it was an attempt to "kill" the members, the government said soon after the House witnessed unprecendented unruly scenes as the controversial Telangana bill was introduced.

"Members tried to use gas in the House...., gas the House....I did not see but I am informed that there was a knife, there was gas, there were other kinds of weapons....The circumstances and incidents which took place in the House are a big blot on our parliamentary democracy," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath told reporters.

Both Kamal Nath and MoS Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Shukla said that strong possible action will be taken against the erring MPs as sentiments of all other members are very strong.

"They want strong action to be taken against the concerned members of Parliament because it is an attempt to kill other members," Shukla said.

Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde also said, "We will take action". He said that the Telangana bill has been introduced in Parliament and it is now the property of the House.

Noting that parliamentary democracy provides for dissent but does not allow the kind of disruptions and attempted violence as witnessed in the House today, Kamal Nath said, "This negates the fundamentals and the foundation of our democracy.

"Many party leaders have asked me to request the Speaker to take action against those who have done such things and it is a very unfortunate (incident) in my 33 years of parliamentary life. I feel ashamed that such an incident has taken place," he said.