New Delhi, May 10: The Lok Sabha was rocked today as the Opposition attacked home minister P. Chidambaram over the alleged Aircel-Maxis deal, leading an angry Pranab Mukherjee to lose his cool first and then apologise while the home minister read out his son’s statement, quoted poet Thiruvalluvar and Jesus Christ in the House to term the allegations as “wild”.

The pandemonium began during Zero Hour after BJP leader Yashwant Sinha raised the issue of allegations pertaining to Chidambaram’s son, Karti Chidambaram, benefiting from the Aircel-Maxis deal when his father was the finance minister of the country. Sinha termed it a “conflict of interest” and sought a statement from Pranab Mukherjee, leader of the House and finance minister.

Mukherjee firmly refused to make a statement and lost his cool when the Opposition insisted, leading Speaker Meira Kumar to adjourn the House. “If you force me I am not going to speak..,,” an angry Mukherjee was heard saying in the din.

When the House reassembled post lunch, Chidambaram stood up to make a statement while the Opposition shouted slogans against the government. At this time neither Mukherjee nor any other senior minister was seen in the House.

In the din, Chidambaram read out a statement released by his son last week after Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy had levelled the same allegations. Chidambaram said: “...neither I nor any member of my family have acquired or hold any share in either Maxis or Aircel”.

He then quoted Thiruvalluvar and said: “People who cause ill to you, you will return it only with good.”

Later, Mukherjee apologised for his angry reaction. “Unfortunately…I lost my temper. It was not appropriate for me and I sincerely apologise for that,” he said.