The Rajya Sabha could not take up any legislative business for the second day on Wednesday, with the opposition parties intensifying their protest and demanding legal action against Minister of State for Food Processing Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti for her communal remarks in a recent BJP election rally here. The Minister had expressed regret in both Houses on Tuesday.

In the Lok Sabha, opposition members walked out of the House demanding a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was also present. In the Rajya Sabha too, the members demanded that Modi explain his stand on the issue.

The agitated elders did not allow discussion on issues such as India’s stand in the WTO and the Prime Minister’s recent visits to foreign countries.

They argued that the House had been functioning smoothly till the Minister’s statement vitiated the atmosphere. Modi ought to sack Niranjan Jyoti, they said.

They further reiterated that her statement is punishable under the Indian Penal Code and an apology is not sufficient.

“The Minister should be sacked. This is an insult to the Constitution. The Prime Minister should inform the House that the Minister has been sacked,” said Congress leader Anand Sharma.

Past imperfect

Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, however, rejected the demand and said various leaders had made controversial remarks in the past. Modi has already expressed disapproval over the Minister’s statement and there is no need of any further action as she has already apologised, he emphasised.

Ready to relent

Meanwhile, informal discussions are said to be taking place between the Opposition and the Centre to end the impasse.

A section of the opposition leaders have told government floor managers that they will relent if the Prime Minister makes his stand clear on the issue. The Centre, however, sees no grounds for this.

The issue is likely to hurt proceedings on Thursday as well.

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