New Delhi: Rajya Sabha chairman Hamid Ansari suspended Congress member V. Hanumantha Rao, for disorderly conduct during a heated debated on the conversion issue.

An adamant Mr Rao, however, remained in the House, but minutes later it was adjourned.

At 2 pm, Mr Rao was not present in the House. He had led the Opposition members in the Well of the House thrice on Wednesday where they resorted to sloganeering against the PM and the government despite repeated warnings by the Chair.

The government termed the comments of some Opposition members as “demeaning” and “shameful”.

As the Opposition upped the offensive against the government, the PM is understood to have told his cabinet colleagues that government need not be defensive, as it had done nothing wrong.

“We have not done anything wrong and why should we worry,” a source quoted the PM as saying.