PM Modi's Speech Deferred as House Adjourned Amid Ruckus

The ruckus in the Lok Sabha that led to the cancellation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reply to the Vote of Thanks following the President's address, had started early on Wednesday. The Opposition has been on the warpath since Rahul Gandhi was not allowed to quote from the unpublished memoirs of of former Army chief MM Naravane. 

There were several adjournments and as soon as the House proceedings started at 5 pm -- shortly before PM Modi was expected to speak -- some women MPs from the Opposition, including Varsha Gaikwad and Jyotimani, blocked the chairs of seats of the ruling party, including the seat of PM Modi. They held a large banner that read, "Do what is right". Their protest was over the suspension of the eight Opposition MPs yesterday.

Sandhya Rai, who was filling in for the Speaker, then adjourned the proceedings. The women MPs ended their blockade only after several ministers urged them to leave.