Breaking News: Currency notes flashed in Indian Parliament

New Delhi: Pandemonium gripped the Lok Sabha (the Lower House) on Tuesday afternoon as opposition MPs suddenly flashed bundles of currency notes they said were being doled out by government supporters to bribe MPs ahead of a crucial trust vote later in the day.

The trust vote was necessitated by the Left parties withdrawal of support to the UPA government over the Indo-US nuclear deal.

Deputy Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal was presiding over the house, trying to persuade Basudeb Acharya of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) to end his speech, when Ashok Pradhan of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) walked rapidly to the table of parliament staffers, accompanied by a colleague.

Both then placed two leather bags on the table and pulled out bundles of 100 rupee notes, alleging bribery.

As the house - and the nation - watched in shock, Atwal left his seat. In no time, a large number of MPs, mainly from the opposition benches, trooped towards the empty speaker's chair, shouting slogans.

The trust vote has been deferred and may take place only late in the night.