Breakthrough in LS as Rahul calls on Speaker

A fragile peace between the Treasury and Opposition benches returned to the Lok Sabha on Wednesday after a meeting between Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, but the impasse continued in the Rajya Sabha ahead of a marathon discussion on the 75 years of the Constitution in both Houses.

- Saubhadra Chatterji and Smriti Kak Ramachandran

NEW DELHI:

Gandhi requested Birla to expunge the derogatory comments against him made by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members and said that the Opposition wanted the House to run. "I urged the Speaker to expunge the derogatory comments against me. The Speaker said he would examine the matter. They (BJP) make unreasonable accusations, but we have decided to let the House run irrespective of the kind of provocation they resort to," Gandhi said in the Parliament complex.

"Whatever provocation they do, we will allow them. But we will try and run the House. We would want that somehow the House functions. We want there to be a debate and discussion. We want that there should be a debate on the Constitution on December 13," Gandhi added.

A number of BJP leaders had alleged links between Rahul Gandhi and US billionaire George Soros.