Agitated Sonia Gandhi takes on Advani

In a rare show of strong emotion inside Parliament, Congress president Sonia Gandhi was visibly agitated today over BJP leader LK Advani's remarks questioning the legality of the UPA government and was seen gesticulating at the opposition benches demanding his statement be withdrawn.

In a rare show of strong emotion inside Parliament, Congress president Sonia Gandhi was visibly agitated on Wednesday over BJP leader LK Advani's remarks questioning the legality of the UPA government and was seen gesticulating at the opposition benches demanding his statement be withdrawn.

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As a leader who is usually silent when she attends Lok Sabha and is a keen observer of goings-on in the House, Gandhi's anger was triggered by Advani's remarks and she was heard asking him to withdraw his remarks.

Advani was speaking on an adjournment motion over the Assam violence, when he questioned the legitimacy of the UPA government and clarified that he was referring to the 2008 confidence vote over the India-US civil nuclear deal when the cash-for-vote episode was enacted inside Lok Sabha.

His comments were later declared as withdrawn by Speaker Meira Kumar.

Gandhi was also seen egging on her party MPs to protest Advani's comments.

When Advani tried to clarify on his statement, she was also heard shouting "no, no" and asking him to withdraw the comments.