The Lok Sabha plunged into turmoil on Friday immediately after Leader of the Opposition Lal Kishenchand Advani referred to the induction of "tainted" persons in the government.

As soon as Somnath Chatterjee, who had just been elected speaker unanimously, asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to introduce his Council of Ministers, Advani requested the speaker to let him state his observations. He then said that while the PM had the prerogative to choose his ministers, never in the past had persons with criminal background been inducted in the government.

The remark sparked strong protests from the ruling benches despite repeated pleas by the chair to allow Advani to complete his brief statement.

Advani said he was happy that a person of clean image had occupied the PM's post, but many were disappointed over the constitution of the Cabinet. Not only the opposition parties were unhappy, even the parties supporting the government did not like the induction of the "tainted persons", Advani said.

He said that on June 3, over 200 National Democratic Alliance members of Parliament had marched to Rashtrapati Bhavan to submit a memorandum to President A P J Abdul Kalam in this regard.

Chatterjee criticised the members for their disorderly behaviour. "Please do not force me to take action on the very first day. I will not tolerate this kind of behaviour," he repeatedly said.

Amid pandemonium with opposition members raising slogans "Daagi mantri hatao, desh bachao (Remove tainted ministers and save the country)", the PM introduced his ministerial colleagues.

Many opposition members surged towards the well of the House but were prevented from entering it by their seniors. Angry Akali Dal members from Punjab walked out of the House in protest.

Meanwhile, the members of the Council of Ministers introduced by Manmohan Singh included the Leader of the House and Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Human Resources Development Minister Arjun Singh, Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Railway Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav, Chemicals and Fertiliser Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, Information and Broadcasting Minister S Jaipal Reddy and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.

As soon as the PM completed introducing his colleagues, the speaker adjourned the House for the day.