New Delhi: Unveiling of the portrait of Hindu Mahasabha leader Vinayak Damodar Savarkar in Parliament had its reflection in the Lok Sabha on February 26 when a BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) member raised the issue provoking the Opposition, which had boycotted the function, to launch a vociferous protest.

When the House took up special mentions in the afternoon, Yogi Adityanath (BJP) got up and protested the Opposition boycott even before Deputy Speaker P M Sayeed, who was in the Chair, could stop him from speaking as scheduled business was going on.

Adityanath's remarks provoked members from the Left, Samajwadi Party, RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) and Congress, who reacted sharply, with some of them asking Sayeed to stop the BJP member from making provocative comments.

The Opposition members also raised slogans like 'Gandhi hum sharminda hain, tere qatil zinda hain' (Gandhi we are ashamed that your assassins are still alive) and 'Angrezon ke dalalon ki yeh sarkar nahin chalegi' (This government of lackeys of British imperialism will not be allowed to run).

These slogans were countered by BJP members who shouted 'Savarkar amar rahe' (long live Savarkar).

Order was restored in the House after about 15 minutes.

PTI