The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the second time Wednesday after BJP leader L.K. Advani termed the UPA-II government as "illegitimate".
The remark provoked vociferous protests from the ruling benches. Advani later clarified that he was referring to the 2008 parliament trust vote and not the 2009 elections.
While speaking on the Assam violence, Advani said the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance-I government was legitimate but UPA-II was not.
Congress members in particular were immediately on their feet and demanded that the remark be taken back.
For once, Congress president Sonia Gandhi lost her cool and gesticulated at BJP members. Speaker Meira Kumar's appeal for calm went unheeded.
The speaker asked Advani to take back his remark, after which he clarified that he was referring to the July 2008 confidence vote which the UPA-I had won amid bedlam.
As bedlam persisted, Meira Kumar adjourned the house till 2 p.m.