Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said the remarks had been expunged, but the Congress insisted that there should be stronger action against the lawmaker
The Congress today protested in Parliament over what it called unparliamentary, personal remarks made against its leaders by BJP lawmaker Virender Singh on Wednesday.
"The member made derogatory and personal remarks. Strong action should be taken against him and he should apologise," Mallikarjun Kharge, the leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, said, moving an adjournment motion to discuss his conduct.
Speaking during a discussion on drought yesterday, Mr Singh lashed out at the Congress for obstructing Lok Sabha proceedings using controversial terms.
Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said the remarks had been expunged, but the Congress insisted that there should be stronger action against the lawmaker. The Trinamool Congress also came out in its support.
"A responsible precedent should be set so this never happens again," said Trinamool lawmaker Sudip Bandopadhyay.
But Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu rejected the demands, saying that the opposition was equally responsible for observing decorum.
"I am the last man to condone or appreciate anything person said to a person. There is no question of appreciating anybody taking the name of families. The remarks have been expunged. But they said on PM 'tanashaahi (dictatorship)'. How do you call the PM, the darling of the masses, Hitler?" Mr Naidu questioned.
The opposition erupted in slogans of "We want justice."