Renuka Chowdhury in hot water

Firebrand Renuka Chowdhury landed the Congress in trouble on Friday as the DMK and the AIADMK raised a hue and cry over her "unparliamentary" remarks in the Rajya Sabha. The trouble started when the DMK and AIADMK members, who were agitating over the Sri Lankan Tamil issue, broke two of the four mikes on the Chairman's table. The MPs tore up the papers and threw them, as well as damaging some stationery. Chowdhury adjourned the House, but reportedly muttered some unparliamentary words about the protesters, which further infuriated DMK members. "You cannot treat us like animals," they shouted, threatening not to let her occupy the Chair in future, A Sources said the Congress high command has taken a dim view of the undiplomatic handling of the situation. Congress MPs including Ambika Soni, Jairam Ramesh and RPN Singh had to intervene to placate DMK members, along with senior members of the Opposition. Chowdhury has been told to be composed while in the Chair, and is said to have apologised for the row.