Furious over black money remark, Sonia storms well of LS

A remark against her by a Bharatiya Janata Party member on Wednesday angered Sonia Gandhi who rushed into the Well of Lok Sabha along with her party colleagues, protesting vigorously and forcing abrupt adjournment of the House for about an hour.

When the House re-assembled, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said no allegation should be made by anybody against any member, particularly an important leader, may it be the Congress president, the prime minister or the BJP president.

He said the remark against Gandhi had, in any case, not gone on record.

Earlier, all hell broke loose when BJP Member of Parliament Dushyant Gautam accused Sonia and her family of stashing black money, when Leader of Congress Mallikarjun Kharge was speaking on the Lalit Modi controversy. This is probably the first time that Sonia went to the well of the house. 

Incensed by the remark, the Congress President was heard saying, "Kya bola (what did he say)?" While protesting, she addressed Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and said, "What is this?"

In an unusual move, she rushed into the Well and was followed by her party colleagues.

The speaker said she was not aware what was said in the din and if there was anything unparliamentary, she would expunge it from the proceedings.

Kharge insisted that nothing short of an apology was acceptable. As the uproar continued, Mahajan adjourned the House for about an hour.