New Delhi, Aug 12 (IANS): The Lok Sabha on Wednesday began a debate on the Lalit Modi controversy which has paralysed the house for the entire ongoing monsoon session.

The discussion was held under an adjournment motion as demanded by the Congress was opened by senior party leader Mallikarjun Kharge.

Before the discussion began, there was a heated discussion on whether former IPL chief Lalit Modi, who is being probed by the Enforcement Directorate, can be called a fugitive.

The Congress has been demanding External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's resignation for allegedly helping Lalit Modi.

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan asked Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for his opinion who said Modi has been now declared a fugitive.

"During the UPA government's regime, he was not a fugitive and only today under the NDA that he has been declared a fugitive," he said.

Following this, Mahajan said: "So the word can be used on Wednesday."

After this, Kharge moved that the discussion be taken up under rule 61.