World’s worst parliamentary brawls

Indian politics touched a new low on Thursday as unprecedented pandemonium marked by fisticuffs, pepper spraying, breaking of mike and glasses was witnessed in Lok Sabha as the UPA government introduced the controversial Telangana bill. What happened in India’s seat of power on Thursday is just the latest in a long tradition of lawmakers indulging in heated scuffles over legislation. Two days later, on Saturday Turkish lawmakers brawled over a disputed bill, wherein opposition MP Ali Ihsan Kokturk’s nose was broken. We bring you some of the finest and powerful punches exchanged in a few powerful governmental structures over the years.

An MP affected by pepper gas sprayed by suspended Congress MP Lagadapati Rajagopal during the presentation of Telangana Bill in the Lok Sabha, coming out of Parliament House in New Delhi on February 13. The impact of the spray was so severe that even media persons in the press gallery atop the Chair started coughing and choking. The spray, generally used by women to fend off eve-teasers, was used to lethal effect in the Well of the House by Rajagopal who was assaulted by fellow parliamentarians and taken out of the house by marshals. As some MPs were trying to overpower Rajagopal when he was spraying from the canister, he suffered some blows and the watch and ward staff intervened to take him away.

South Korean Yoon-sung from Korea's ruling GNP is surrounded by security guards as he attempts to pass new bills.

This woman got a big gash after stones and lunchboxes were thrown at her during a Taiwanese parliament session in 2007.

This woman got a big gash after stones and lunchboxes were thrown at her during a Taiwanese parliament session in 2007.

A debate during a Turkish parliament session in Ankara escalated into a fist fight between Turkey's ruling AK Party (second left) and opposition Republican People's Party (right and rear right). They were earlier debating on a constitutional amendment package regarding general and presidential elections.

Vice speaker of the Ukrainian Vekhovnaya Rada, Adam Martynyuk (right), scuffles with deputy Oleg Lyashko during a session in the chamber of the Ukrainian parliament in Kiev. Lyashko had reportedly called Martynyuk a 'Pharisee', who in return lunged and did a 'death grip' on Lyashko.

A fight between Claudio Barbato (opposition Futuro e Liberta party) and Fabio Ranieri (Northern League) breaks out over a disagreement over an economic reform programme.

MPs of main opposition United National Party and government MPs from Colombo clash as President Mahinda Rajapaksa presented the 2012 budget in Parliament.

These two are restrained by their colleagues as they try to get a grip on each other. Turkey's ruling AK Party lawmaker Muhittin Aksak (right) and main opposition Republican People's Party lawmaker Mahmut Tanal scuffle during a debate at the parliament in Ankara.

Members of the opposition parties scuffle with parliament security guards at the National Assembly in Seoul.