Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned for the day on Monday, the first day of the monsoon session.

While in the Lok Sabha the opposition created an uproar over terrorism and rising prices of essential commodities, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day as a mark of respect to sitting Nationalist Congress Party member Vasant Chavan, who died earlier this month.

Before adjourning the House, Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat described Chavan as a noted Parliamentarian, dedicated social worker and able administrator.

It was the first day of the monsoon session and the Opposition and the Left parties had promised a tough time for the government.

Earlier, as soon as the opposition members started shouting slogans, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee said, "I will give you an opportunity to move the adjournment motion here and right now. I will allow these matters to be discussed."

Demanding suspension of the question hour, Bharatiya Janata Party's V K Malhotra said people were agitated at rising prices. "This is a deaf government. It should awake from its slumber," he said.

Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, seated on the front row with Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar [Images] and Sonia Gandhi [Images], was seen jeering at the opposition while waving the controversial book authored by BJP leader Jaswant Singh -- A Call to Honour.

The newly-released book gives details about the then National Democratic Alliance government's handling of the 1999 crisis surrounding the hijack of Indian Airlines plane to Kandahar in Afghanistan that ended with the release of three dreaded terrorists.

Making a statement at the commencement of the month-long session, Chatterjee said he was aware that there were many important issues that the members wished to discuss in the House and that the government had many legislative and other businesses to transact.

"Once again, I wish to reiterate that it has never been the intention of the Chair to hamper or hinder any issue of importance to be discussed or debated on the floor of the House," he said.

Observing that the members were 'justifiably proud' of being the representatives of the people of the great country, he said 'this is not only the highest but the only forum on which the constitution has conferred the authority to enforce the accountability of the Union Council of ministers and we should discharge that authority with a sense of responsibility."

He emphasised that there was 'no substitute to informed and structured debate and discussion' and sought the cooperation of all sections.

In the Rajya Sabha, deploring the Mumbai blasts, Shekhawat said the killing of so many innocent persons has shocked the entire nation.

He also expressed concern over the grenade attacks at tourists in Srinagar [Images] on the day of the Mumbai blast, which killed 9 persons and injured 33 others.

"Those who intend to harm this nation and destabilise our society will never succeed in their evil design", he said, adding, "Their despicable acts can be neutralised by our people by showing unity and will to resist."

The House also mourned the large-scale devastation caused by the earthquake in Indonesia in May and the tsunami in that country that had reportedly caused the death of about 400 people.

"The House expresses its heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the people of Indonesia who have lost their near and dear ones in these tragedies and pray for the early recovery of those who were injured," Shekhawat said.

The House also mourned the death of former member K Gopalan. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] was present in the House.