New Delhi, March 17 (IANS): There was an uproar in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday over comments by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy in Assam where he reportedly said mosques are not religious places.

"Secularism is the biggest strength of a democracy. If there is no secular character, there will be no democracy," Congress leader Pramod Tiwari said, raising the issue soon after the house met.

"They are talking about breaking mosques," Tiwari said as several opposition members joined him and created an uproar.

The members remained unrelenting even as Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the members could discuss the issue.

Amid the commotion, the house was adjourned for ten minutes.

According to reports, Swamy, at a function in Guwahati, said mosques are not religious places but just buildings, and it can be demolished any time.

He also cited the example of mosques demolished for construction of roads in Saudi Arabia.