Sadhvi issue: PM says matter should end after her apology

New Delhi: After two days of storm, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday broke his silence over the row surrounding Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, saying he "strongly disapproved" of the comments of the "new Minister" who has apologised and the matter should end but the opposition remained adamant on her sacking.

While Modi virtually ruled out any action against Jyoti in his statement in Rajya Sabha, Opposition insisted that she has no right to continue as a Minister, contending that since she has apologised, it means she has committed a "crime".

In the Lok Sabha too, the Opposition created uproar to press for a statement from the Prime Minister failing which they unitedly decided to boycott the House proceedings for the day today. Congress and Trinamool Congress staged a walkout.

In the Rajya Sabha where the opposition has been stalling the proceedings since Tuesday, Modi appealed to members to allow the House to function in national interest as Jyoti has already apologised.

Noting that the Minister is new, he said in the "heat" of elections, such comments should be avoided.

"Before this issue was raised in the House, I had put forth this matter before all our MPs...The minister is new, and she has come to Parliament for the first time. We are aware of her background. She has apologised.

"I believe that after her apology...this House has so many senior members with so much experience, they know what should be their feelings towards an apology," Modi said.

"I appeal to the House that when the Minister has apologised...this is a message to all of us that in future we all should not cross the limits of dignity in terms of do's and don'ts. I appeal to the House that we should work for the interest of the country," the Prime Minister said.

However, opposition members wanted clarifications from the Prime Minister but were disallowed leading to protests and repeated adjournments. The House was adjourned for the day at 2.40 PM after five adjournments.