Conversions issue rocks Rajya Sabha

The chorus of protests grew with the Left, Congress and other members wanting to speak on it. Congress’ Pranab Mukherjee, however, said the resolution could have been phrased differently.

The lone supporter of the resolution within the Opposition camp was the AIADMK, a party which has passed a legislation in Tamil Nadu banning forcible conversions. AIADMK’s N. Jyothi said, the ‘‘Supreme Court had already upheld such a law.’’

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj defended the tabling of the resolution as a prerogative of a private member. She warned members that they appeared to be questioning the ‘‘wisdom of the chairman by questioning the merits of the resolution.’’

Heated arguments from both sides, however, ended abruptly as Deputy Chairperson Najma Heptullah left the House following an altercation with Kapil Sibal of Congress.