New Delhi, 15 December (H.S.):

Proceedings in the Lok Sabha ground to a halt on Monday when treasury bench members erupted in protest over inflammatory slogans allegedly raised by Congress workers against Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the party's rally in Delhi's Ramlila Maidan on Sunday, forcing Speaker Om Birla to adjourn the House until 12 noon.

The session began at 11 AM with the Speaker paying tributes to three former Lok Sabha members who had passed away recently. Immediately after the obituary references concluded, ruling party MPs, including those from the BJP, surged to their feet, demanding accountability for videos circulating on social media that captured chants like Modi teri kabra khudegi — interpreted as threats to dig the Prime Minister's grave.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, who had earlier convened a press conference, reiterated his call for Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to apologise on the floor of Parliament. He described the rhetoric as the most unfortunate and tragic assault on democratic norms, stressing that political rivals must not cross into enmity or violence.

The uproar echoed in the Rajya Sabha as well, where proceedings were similarly adjourned till noon amid protests disrupting Question Hour.

This flare-up intensified tensions during the ongoing Winter Session, already strained by disputes over electoral integrity and governance issues raised at the Congress's Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod rally.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar