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Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde apologised in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday after making remarks about Samajwadi Party (SP) MP and actress Jaya Bachchan. Shinde's jibe at Bachchan triggered an uproar in the house. Jaya Bachchan has been a Rajya Sabha MP for six years. When Shinde was replying to a short duration debate on Assam violence, Bachchan expressed unhappiness, saying the Home Minister was not responding to specific queries raised by the members. "Listen carefully sister, my sister, this is a serious matter. This is not a film issue," he said, when Bachchan stood up to interrupt him. Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley asked Shinde to withdraw his comments, saying Bachchan is a distinguished celebrity and a member of the House. Shinde initially persisted, but later withdrew his remarks. "If she is hurt by my comments, I apologise for that. She is my sister," he said, while maintaining that he knew the entire Bachchan family and had great respect for them. Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha was earlier today adjourned till noon after uproar over Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) lawmakers demanded that a Constitution amendment bill should be brought up for reservation in promotion of SCs and STs in government jobs and BJP seeking discussion on black money.

Shinde apologises for jibe at Jaya Bachchan