PM calls Advani's UPA-II remark 'disgraceful'

New Delhi: 2:00 pm: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said LK Advani's controversial remark on UPA-II was disgraceful and unfortunate.

1:10 pm: Reacting to LK Advani's remark for the UPA in Lok Sabha, Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi said, "He's a senior. he knows what he's saying."

Union Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal said LK Advani got his facts wrong and confused history. "Advani has confused history, he is talking about the no confidence motion of 2008," Sibal said.

1:00 pm: Senior BJP leader LK Advani withdrew the objectionable word that he used for UPA-II, from his speech in the Lok Sabha. The Lok Sabha has been adjourned for lunch till 2 pm.

12:50 pm: There was an uproar in the Lok Sabha over senior BJP leader LK Advani's comment on the UPA II. Advani used a controversial word for the UPA-II, while holding it responsible for illegal immigration from Bangladesh and Assam violence.

"Never in the Indian history crores of rupees were spent to win votes in the House," Advani said.

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi reacted strongly to Advani's remarks. Sonia Gandhi, who usually does not agitate during Parliament proceedings, was seen goading Congress MPs to retaliate.

Advani later clarified his statement saying, "I am referring to the vote of confidence in the House, not the 2009 elections."

12:30 pm: Senior BJP leader LK Advani blamed the Assam violence on illegal immigrants, saying that Bangladeshi immigrants posed a threat in Assa.

"The root cause is the illegal immigration from Bangladesh. The illegal immigration from Bangladesh is posing a security threat to the entire nation," Advani said.

"The central government is responsible for the illegal immigration in the state. It is the responsibility of the central government to stop this foreign immigration," Advani added.

12:25 pm: Senior BJP leader LK Advani, who initiated the discussion on Assam violence in the Lok Sabha, said lakhs of people being displaced was unprecedented. He also said that the Assam violence was not ethnic, but an issue of Indians and non-Indians.

12:12 pm: Senior BJP leader LK Advani initiated the discussion on the ethnic violence in Kokrajhar and other parts of Assam in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

12 noon: Parliament resumed after being adjourned over the issue of Assam violence. BJP leader LK Advani is set to initiate the discussion on the issue.

Cricketer and Rajya Sabha MP Sachin Tendulkar attended the Rajya Sabha session for the first time after being elected as a Member of Parliament.

11:30 am: The Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till noon as MPs created a ruckus over the ethnic violence in Assam's Kokrajhar.

11:21 am: Lok Sabha Speaker accepts the adjournment motion over ethnic violence in Assam. Session to resume at 12 noon.

10:21 am Requesting for the smooth functioning of Parliament, Manmohan Singh adds, "We hope political parties will cooperate with the government. In ensuring that this session moves forward smoothly to tackle many legislative questions which are now before the two houses."

10:15 am: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh says, "Our government is prepared for discussion on every issue in accordance of rules and procedures. We welcome parliament as a forum for proper discussion and dialogue. We hope political parties will cooperate with the government."

10:09 am Prime Minister Manmohan Singh says, "Our government is prepared for discussion on every issue."

10:05 am: The Bharatiya Janata Party has moved an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha on the Kokrajhar violence in Assam. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that the government is ready to discuss all issues in Parliament.

P Chidambaram may have had a change of ministry, but the Opposition is not willing to have a change of heart in dealing with him in Parliament. Finance Minister P Chidambaram, earlier boycotted by the BJP during the winter session, will face the heat on the Aircel-Maxis deal during the month-long Monsoon session.

The BJP wants discussion on a host of issues from the ethnic violence in Kokrajhar to the drought situation in the country to coalgate to the spectrum allocation. They would want the UPA government to clear its stand on FDI in retail. On Left's agenda is also the Food Security Bill and the attack on workers during the violence at the Maruti plant in Manesar.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Shukla said, "Hope they let the House function normally."

The government hopes to take up 31 bills for passage in the Monsoon session. Of these, the finance related bills are The Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, the Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill, the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) Bill, and the Companies Bill.

The controversial Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill will also be taken up for passing.

The Lokpal Bill, which has been referred to a Rajya Sabha select committee, is unlikely to come up in this session.

This session will be a test for the new leader of the House, Sushil Kumar Shinde, who has replaced Pranab Mukherjee, who was the chief troubleshooter for the UPA for eight long years. With the TMC making it clear that they will oppose anything on FDI or opening up of the pension sector to foreign investment and other friends of the government too opposing FDI openly, Shinde clearly has tough road ahead.