A day after kicking up a row, Bharatiya Janata Party MP Sakshi Maharaj was forced by a united opposition to express regret in the Lok Sabha for describing Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse as a 'patriot', a remark that was condemned by the government too.
The House saw Congress President Sonia Gandhi leading the opposition members in raising slogans against the government and the BJP member.
Disapproving of the disruption, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan sarcastically said that from tomorrow she will set aside the first five minutes for apologies.
She asked Sakshi Maharaj to express regret.
The BJP member said he respects the Mahatma and the House and "I withdraw my remarks if those have hurt anybody's sentiments."
He went on to add, "..my friends have no issue...Godse killed Gandhi long back but you killed the Mahatma's ideology in 1984 during anti-Sikh riots."
The opposition members were still agitated, saying Sakshi Maharaj's remarks had hurt the sentiments of all the countrymen and he should apologise unconditionally.
Leader of Congress party Mallikarjun Kharge said the opposition will not allow the government to have its way just because it has majority.
As the din continued, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said the member has already withdrawn his remarks. The government and the party "condemns" and "dissociate" themselves from such comments, he added.
At the same time, he attacked the Congress members, saying Mahatma Gandhi never indulged in or approved of such a conduct or threatened anyone.
The Speaker then again prodded Sakshi Maharaj, who said "I express regret before the House and the country."
A Pakistani delegation of legislators was in the Speaker's Gallery watching the proceedings.
Earlier, trouble began when the Speaker referred to the December 13, 2001, Parliament attack on the eve of its anniversary o Saturday, members from Congress and RJD referred to the BJP MP's controversial remarks.
When she informed that she has rejected notices for adjournment motion and suspension of Question Hour to take up the issue, opposition members from Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Trinamool Congress and Left trooped into the Well raising slogans against the government and Sakshi Maharaj.
Mahajan took up the Question Hour amid slogans like 'Hey Ram, hey Ram; Gandhi ke hatyare ko diya samman' (eulogising Gandhi's killer) and 'doshi sarkar hai hai' (down with the guilty government).
As the pandemonium continued, Mahajan adjourned the House for 10 minutes at around 11.15 am, 15 minutes after it had assembled.
As soon as the House re-assembled, Naidu said nobody can accept eulogising the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi. He said the government and the BJP do not agree with the proposition of the MP.
When Congress members said they were not satisfied with the minister's reply, Naidu shot back saying there are people who are "killing" the ideology of the Mahatma every day.
As Opposition members shouted slogans in the Well, Sonia Gandhi was seen directing her party MPs from her seat in the front bench. She also joined them in raising slogans.
