Nirupam made the comment after Vyalar Ravi (Cong) and others, through a special mention, raised the issue of a semi-nude protest by Sena workers in front of Dilip Kumar's residence on Saturday against the veteran actor's support to the screening of the controversial film Fire.

Members were so agitated over Nirupam's remark that almost the entire Opposition trooped into the well of the House and demanded its withdrawal and apology from the member.

Even chairman Krishan Kant was highly perturbed, and told Nirupam: ``You are not only bringing indignity to this House but to the entire country. You have given a bad name to Parliament and this country. I have also come fromPakistan... Can you call me a Pakistani ?'' He warned him that if he did not apologise he would have to take action.

Nirupam's defiance continued. ``You are Hindustani but Dilip Kumar is Pakistani. Maine koi galti nahi ki hai (I have not committed any mistake). Otherwise I would have sought pardon.''

At this point, the Chairman adjourned the House. Again when the House met after lunch, Deputy Chairperson Najma Heptulla adjourned proceedings for the day without even taking her chair.

Nirupam, however, refused to withdraw the comment, and repeated, ``I have not called any member of the House a Pakistani. But Dilip Kumar has received Nishan-e-Pakistan, the highest award of that country, and he is a Pakistani.''

``There are two facets to what happened in the Rajya Sabha today. While I will apologise for defying the Chairman, I still maintain that Dilip Kumar's basic attitude is anti-Indian,'' he told The Indian Express.

``This country gave this fundamentalist Muslim everything. Still he isanti-Indian and goes to Pakistan to accept Nishaan-e-Pakistan (an award conferred on him by that country),'' he said. He claimed that Kumar had been involved in a spying case in 1965 but some people protected him.

This triggered a volley of protest from the Opposition with Left party and Rashtriya Loktantrik Morcha (RLM) members rushing into the well, leading to abrupt adjournment of the House five minutes before lunch.

Opposition tempers had not cooled even after the House reassembled at 1400 hours, and deputy chairperson Najma Heptulla adjourned it for the day.

Though the BJP came to Nirupam's defence, it appeared to be rattled by the turn of events. After the House adjourned, it deputed Venkaiah Naidu to convince Nirupam to apologise, given the Chairman's feelings about his conduct.

Next it was BJP veteran V K Malhotra's turn to defend the Sena action. ``It's okay if lesbianism is depicted in a film but why should the dramatis personae be named Sita and Radha ?'' he asked. Shabana Azmi whohas played one of them clarified that the name was ``Neeta'' and not Sita. But Malhotra went on. ``Even Radha is sacred to Hindus. People who have depicted Sita in the nude have been glorified in this House,'' he said.

The issue generated heat in the Lok Sabha as well. But things did not go out of hand with ministers M L Khurana and R Kumaramangalam doing their bit to lower the temperature by lauding the contribution made by Dilip Kumar.

Aware of the moves to get him to tender a vague apology, a determined Opposition is planning to move a resolution tomorrow demanding action against the Sena member. ``A mere apology won't do. He was given the chance to do it but spurned the offer. Under the rules, the House can take a decision on what to do,'' a Left MP said.