Proceedings in parliament predictably got off to an aggressive start on Monday as Sharad Yadav's controversial "dark-skinned" women comment was discussed.

Earlier, Sharad Yadav took umbrage over politicians criticizing him for his "dark-skinned" women comment, saying that he was well within his rights to speak on the issue. Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani countered and requested that Yadav not speak at all about the colour of the skin of women at all.

"What have I said ... 'saanvli' (dark complexioned) women are more in number in India, they are more in number the world over. I am ready to debate with anyone on the struggle of (Ram Manohar) Lohia and others for them," he said in Rajya Sabha.

As Yadav explained his position on the issue, he was interrupted by both treasury and opposition members including HRD Minister Smriti Irani. "I appeal to the gentleman (Yadav) not to make comments on colour of skin of women in this manner. Very wrong message is going," she said.

As other MPs joined in, Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien said he would not allow a discussion on the issue. "I am not allowing any discussion ... white or dark colour, it is all the same," he said.

The issue figured after Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad rose to dissociate himself from comments made by Yadav last week. "I dissociate myself from those remarks. I completely disassociate and disapprove of the remarks... I appeal to Sharad Yadav to kindly withdraw his comments," he said

Yadav drew a lot of flak when he allegedly made a remark during the debate on the Insurance Bill in Rajya Sabha on Thursday and said: "The women of south are beautiful, their bodies...their skin ...They aren't made like this here. They know dance".

The senior JD(U) leader also described the proposal to raise foreign investment cap to 49% as a reflection of an obsession with fair skin. "Here people are awed by fair skin. In our matrimonials too we look for gori, gori (fair skin)," he said.