From 'Jai Palestine' to Emergency reference, here are top 5 controversies that roiled Parliament

From controversial slogans raised by newly-elected MPs while taking oath, to the Lower House marking the 'dark days of the Emergency, the inaugural session of the 18th Lok Sabha that began on the 24th of June has witnessed some dramatic events.

With only less than a week for the Lok Sabha's first session to conclude, here are the top five controversial moments that have rocked the Lower House.

Emergency
Minutes after being re-elected as the Speaker, Om Birla called for two minutes' silence to remember as he read out a resolution condemning the imposition of the Emergency and flaying then prime minister Indira Gandhi for her attack on the Constitution. The remarks drew the ire of opposition MPs, many of whom jumped to their feet to condemn the resolution.

Owaisi's 'Jai Palestine' slogan

One of the flashpoints of this year's oath-taking ceremony of the newly-elected MPs is that it has been laced with their ideological assertions. One that made to the headline was Owaisi's pro-Palestine slogan after he concluded his oath. After BJP's Shobha Karandlaje objected to Owaisi's controversial oath, presiding officer Radhamohan Singh instructed it to be removed from the record.

Sengol
Sengol placed in the Parliament once again became a point of friction between BJP leaders and the Opposition. Samajwadi MP RK Chaudhary shot off a letter to Speaker Om Birla, seeking to replace the golden sceptre with Indian Consitution. Sharp reactions emerged from the ruling establishment, with BJP flaying the opposition for demeaning the Indian culture.

Rahullah clashes with Birla
Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi clashed with Om Birla minutes after he was re-elected as the Speaker. Mehdi criticised the speaker, reminding him of his past actions while acting out as the custodian of the Lok Sabha.

NEET-UG
The controversy surrounding the NEET-UG paper leak reached the corridors of the Lok Sabha on the opening day of the 18th Lok Sabha as Opposition leaders raised slogans of “NEET” and “shame” when Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan took the oath as a member of the Lok Sabha.