"He Only Said...": Mallikarjun Kharge Defends MP Suspended From Lok Sabha

He appealed to Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar to "protect democracy", arguing Mr Chowdhury will be deprived of various Parliamentary committees he is part of.

Congress president and leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge today said his party colleague and Lok Sabha whip Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury was suspended from the lower house on flimsy ground. Mr Kharge claime that he only said "Nirav Modi" and Nirav means "shaant" (quiet in Hindi).

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury was on Thursday suspended from the Lok Sabha for allegedly attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and disturbing the ministers. The Congress called the action against its floor leader "unbelievable" and "undemocratic".

Mr Chowdhury later told reporters that he had not meant to insult PM Modi. "I didn't mean to offend anyone. I have not said anything wrong," he said.