Venkaiah Naidu: Don't make a mockery of House

The Winter Session of Parliament was again disrupted as the Opposition continued to ask for an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his allegations that former PM Manmohan Singh had conspired with Pakistani officials to influence the Gujarat elections.

The PM was in the Lok Sabha that was adjourned temporarily. After the adjournment, the Lok Sabha passed two bills. The Opposition-dominated Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day amid slogan-shouting.

In the Rajya Sabha, Chairman Venkaiah Naidu's said nobody will tender an apology because nothing happened in the House. "Don't make a mockery of the House. Already wrong message is going out," he said.

"There was no mention of conspiracy as alleged by the Opposition in PM's speech," said Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

Opposition parties, which disrupted Parliament for two days, had finally allowed government business on Tuesday, after back-to-back hectic parleys. But the sword of disruptions remained.

In the meetings outside the House on Tuesday, Opposition leaders had made it clear to Jaitley that the blockade would be resumed unless Modi regrets, clarifies and withdraws his insinuation.

They however relented to an extent. "We understand the stature of the PM office. We will not insist on his apology. But he must clarify and regret," said a top Opposition leader.