Aiyar in spat with Naresh Agarwal

The Rajya Sabha is called the House of Elders. But recently the Elders were involved in unseemly spat. Former Union Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar, who was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the President, was involved in a similar ugly spat with Naresh Agarwal of Samajwadi Party. Recently, Trinamool Congress MP Derek O' Brien tweeted: “Two senior MPs on either side of me almost came to blows in the RS (Rajya Sabha).

What are we coming to?” This was after Union Minister of State for Finance J D Seelam took strong objection to some remarks to the point of charging at Telangana Congress MP Palvai Goverdhan Reddy. Aiyar questioned the insistence on discussing the LoC killings, saying there are other issues that needed discussion, like gas prices.

Naresh Agarwal hit back with an insult hurled at Aiyar, which was immediately expunged by Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari. Fuming, Aiyar rushed towards Naresh Agarwal, shouting: “How dare you call me that!” Aiyar was stopped by other members, but the angry exchanges continued until the Chairman adjourned the House briefly. Former Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar later asked Naresh Agarwal, “How could you say such a thing?”