New Delhi: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday instructed the lawmakers not to turn the House of the People into a 'municipal body'.
"Is sadan ko Nagar nigam aur nagar parishad jaisa mat banaiye (Please do not turn this House into a civic body)," Speaker made the harsh observation in the House during Zero Hour when members of Congress and other opposition parties were raising slogans and trying to display some papers.
He told the agitating members, "You have right to raise issues....please remember the world is keeping a close watch on how we conduct in the House. This is your House, the onus is on all of you maintain the prestige of the House...Please do not turn this House into a municipal body".
Pandemonium scenes prevailed in the House after Speaker disallowed Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, the Congress floor leader, to raise the same issue.
Several opposition members trooped into the well of the House raising anti-government slogans.
Some of them were heard saying - "We want justice" and "Vibhajit ka Rajniti Bandh karo (Stop the politics of poaching and division)".
Also Read: Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid: SC may order early listing
Opposition members from other parties Indian Union of Muslim League, NCP and RSP also stood up supporting the Congress leader's contention that he has the right to raise the issue affecting Karnataka politics.
DMK members led by T R Baalu and A Raja also joined the Congress members in raising anti-government slogans.
When allowed to make his point, Mr. Chowdhury said the politics of poaching should come to an end.
"We want to cooperate with the chair in running the House....but the politics of poaching cannot go on. Today Karnataka and tomorrow Madhya Pradesh ...these cannot go on," Mr. Chowdhury said in reference to alleged efforts being made by the BJP to topple the JD(S)-Congress coalition ministry in Karnataka.
Amid the din as some Congress members tried to display some papers with slogans written on it, Speaker Mr. Birla cautioned that such gestures are not allowed in the House. ''It is my last warning,'' he said.
While one Congress member was heard saying - "this is our right" -- the Speaker quickly said "no" and maintained "I can take action".
The principal opposition Congress and other opposition parties including from DMK and National Conference later stated walkout in the Lok Sabha registering their protest over political developments in Karnataka.
Amid the din, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi quoted rule book and said the matter which has already been discussed by the House during the "same Session cannot be raised again through the Adjournment Motion or by any other motion".
"I want to clarify, Sir that they have already raised the issue and the hon. Deputy Leader and hon. Raksha Mantri has responded to it. As far as the Government at the Centre is concerned, we do not have any role as far as the Karnataka issue is concerned," he said.
For the second consecutive day, BJP maintained that the political crisis in Karnataka has been actually sparked off by Congress president Rahul Gandhi himself.
"This is because of Rahul Gandhi's call that this is happening in Karnataka. There are so many important Bills and important issues before the country which they can raise," Parliamentary Affairs Minister said - "I appeal to them (opposition) not to disturb the House. This is the first Session of the House. Let them allow the House to turn".
On Monday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said the resignation saga in the Congress party had been triggered by none other than Congress president himself.