Indian parliament's monsoon session begins amid opposition's uproar

The monsoon session of the Indian Parliament began Tuesday, but had to be adjourned within an hour following massive uproar by opposition parties over allegations of corruption and wrongdoing by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and two chief ministers.

Both Rajya Sabha (Upper House) and Lok Sabha (Lower House) witnessed massive uproar as almost all opposition parties, led by Congress, demanded Swaraj's resignation for helping scam-tainted former cricket boss Lalit Modi, now a fugitive in Britain.

In the Upper House, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told the opposition parties that the external affairs minister would explain her decision to help Lalit Modi get urgent travel papers. "We are ready for a discussion right now," he said.

But it failed to pacify the opposition parties which kept on shouting slogans such as "Bring Lalit Modi Back" and demanded the sacking of Swaraj and the Chief Minister of the western state of Rajasthan Vasundhara Raje in the scandal called Lalitgate.

The Lower House also witnessed similar scenes as the opposition refused to relent till Swaraj, Raje and Chief Minister of the central state of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chauhan, accused of his involvement in a corruption scandal, were sacked by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party government.

Earlier in the day, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he is "hopeful of a constructive meeting" and is counting on the opposition's support to clear urgent reforms "for the progress of the country."

A number of legislative bills are pending to be passed in the parliament and the Congress party has said it will not let it function till actions are taken against the three BJP leaders. The government has ruled out the resignations of the three ministers. Endi