New Delhi, Dec 5 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday told the Lok Sabha that minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti has apologised for her abusive remark and the issue be put to rest, but the stalemate in parliament persisted with the opposition walking out of the lower house and cutting short the Rajya Sabha sitting for the day.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi and many opposition members also protested outside the Parliament House, saying that "democratic process" was not being allowed inside and pressed for the minister's resignation.

In the Rajya Sabha, opposition members said they have scaled down their demand for her resignation and now sought a resolution should be passed condemning her abusive remarks.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu, meanwhile, urged the opposition to allow normal proceedings of the two houses.

Modi made a statement in the Lok Sabha soon after the house met for the day, saying he had expressed his unhappiness at Jyoti's remarks during a meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party parliamentary party Tuesday.

"Before the issue was raised in the house, when there was a meeting of my party MPs, I had sternly instructed against using such language, and had expressed my unhappiness," he said.

In remarks similar to those made in the Rajya Sabha Thursday, Modi said the minister was new.

"Nobody can approve such things. Later, the minister apologised. She is a new minister, we know her social background - she is from a village - and she has apologised and it is the duty of senior members in the house that when a member apologises in front of such a big house, then we should also be liberal."

The prime minister said he was grateful to members of the Lok Sabha that they allowed the house to function.

Unlike the Rajya Sabha which has seen repeated adjournments, the Lok Sabha has transacted business after protests by opposition members during question hour.

Modi said members should accept "maryada (dignity of language)" and speak within that - whether they were within the house or outside.

He said senior leaders should request members of their parties to close the issue and move forward with their work in the interest of the country.

Jyoti, who is minister of state for food processing industries, reportedly said at a public meeting here: "Aapko tay karna hai ki Dilli mein sarkar Ramzadon ki banegi ya haramzadon ki." (You have to decide if you want a government in Delhi to be led by the children of Lord Ram or illegitimate children).

Soon after Modi spoke, opposition members, including those from the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, and Trinamool Congress, staged a walkout.

The house continued with its business though the opposition members did not return to the house the entire day.

In the Rajya Sabha, disruptions continued over Jyoti's remarks for the fourth day, leading ultimately to its adjournment for the day.

As soon as the house met, members were on their feet demanding that the minister be dismissed.

The house was adjourned till noon but the situation was no different when it reassembled, though the opposition said now they wanted a resolution to be passed by the house, condemning the minister's remark.

Communist Party of India-Marxist leader (CPI-M) Sitaram Yechury urged Chairman M. Hamid Ansari to allow passage of the resolution. Congress also made similar demand.

Yechury also suggested that the prime minister's speech be put to vote but that too was turned down.

The house saw repeated adjournments before it was adjourned for the day.

Naidu made an appeal in the Lok Sabha to the opposition members to return to the house and take part in the discussions.

He said the opposition should join discussions to "meet expectations of people".

Talking to reporters outside the Parliament House, he said the opposition protest will "boomerang".

He also said that Jyoti will campaign for the BJP as and when required, and dismissed suggestions that she was being pulled out over her controversial remark.

The opposition MPs, who protested outside the Parliament House, tied black scarves across their mouths.

"The attitude of the government is not to allow democratic process inside the house," Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi said.

"We are going to fight at every inch. We are being stopped and suppressed," he added.

The members were also seen carrying banners reading "Protect secularism and democracy", "We want united India" and "Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti resign".