TDP leaders shout at Pranab over Babli

The Telugu Desam Parliamentary Party on Wedenesday criticised Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee during a Lok Sabha uproar over the disputed Babli barrage and later apologised to him.

Telugu Desam MP Naramalli Sivaprasad at one stage shouted at Pranab during an unpleasant debate over Babli barrage. The House reassembled at 11.30 a.m. after an adjournment following protests by the Tdp and the Shiv Sena members over the Babli barrage dispute earlier.

Mukherjee asked the agitated Telugu Desam leaders to go back to their seats as they had surrounded the desk of Speaker Meira Kumar.

This triggered an angry exchange when the Speaker also urged the MPs to go back to their seats and assured that Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal would make a statement over the issue. But the Tdp legislators continued their protests. This flared up Pranab who lost his temper. 

At this moment, Sivaprasad who was already annoyed shouted at Mukherjee. Mukherjee then retorted, "You go back to your seat. That is the rule." However, the Chittoor MP would not be cowed down, he again shouted at Mukherjee. 

Meanwhile, Congress MPs M Jagannath, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Aaroon Rashid and Jagadambika Pal ran to the podium to defend the Finance Minister.

Leader of Opposition, Ms Sushma Swaraj tried to pacify Sivaprasad and sent him back to his seat. The other four Telugu Desam MPs stood by him. 

The din forced the Speaker to adjourn the House for 10 minutes. There was no respite when the House reassembled at 12 p.m.