The opening of India parliament's new session Monday was put on hold after opposition lawmakers caused a commotion over the issue of corruption.

The so-called “monsoon session” — set to be one of the most ambitious in recent history — began with dignified ceremony. But it quickly degenerated into a free-for-all shouting match when members of the Bharatiya Janata Party attacked the ruling coalition government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over its handling of corruption and bribery scandals.

Lawmakers were scheduled to debate key measures on ensuring food safety for the poor as well as establishing a citizen's oversight body to police government corruption. But the session was adjourned just before midday, and it remains unclear whether those issues will be addressed when legislators reconvene Tuesday.

Before entering the meeting, Mr. Singh had said he hoped the new session would be both productive and constructive. On Sunday, he told reporters his party was ready to take corruption discussions head on, adding “the opposition has also too many skeletons in the closet.”

The government faces allegations related to last year's Commonwealth Games and the awarding of cellular licenses, while some opposition members have been implicated in a bribery scandal involving mining contracts.

The renewed political wrangling came as a top Indian advisory panel predicted slower economic growth and lingering high inflation. The Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council scaled down its forecast for India's economic growth to 8.2 from 8.5 percent. Inflation has hovered at around 9 percent.