V K Malhotra, the BJP’s deputy leader in the Lok Sabha, said the protest was intended to be “peaceful” but “Communist cadres from inside pelted stones” on the demonstrators, leaving 15 injured. “It was pre-planned by the CPI(M),” he alleged, adding that the BJP had filed an FIR citing how the CPI(M) cadres were “incited” by their leaders.

Malhotra alleged that the Delhi Police took one-sided action against BJP activists under directions from the Union Home Ministry which was under “pressure” from the Left parties.

Madhusudan Mistry of Congress alleged that the BJP had a tendency of being violent and its leaders were “shamelessly” defending the violence. He referred to BJP leader L K Advani, who was present in the House, and said there had been no statement by the person who was being projected as the party’s prime ministerial candidate.

As members from BJP clashed with the Left-Congress combine, an agitated Speaker warned them against disrupting anybody’s speech. He said if any member disrupted any speaker, the observations of his party would be “totally deleted”.

Ram Kirpal Yadav of the RJD, who was trying to say something, was cautioned a number of times against disrupting the speech of Malhotra. “You are deliberately defying the chair. This is not a joke going on,” Chatterjee told Yadav before finally asking him to leave, which he did.

In the Rajya Sabha, as soon as CPI(M) member Sitaram Yechury stood up to raise the matter, BJP members sprang to their feet, protesting against attacks on their workers in Kannur in Kerala. Left benches reacted strongly and were supported by the Congress, RJD and Samajwadi Party while the Shiv Sena and BJD stood in support of the BJP.

... contd.