New Delhi, July 15 - The Bharatiya Janata Party's S.S. Ahluwalia is usually known for his booming interventions on a variety of issues in the Rajya Sabha. On Wednesday, however, he was seen in a rather unusual role -- that of a peacemaker.

It happened during question hour when Home Minister P. Chidambaram was detailing the steps the government was taking to deal with Maoist violence in Orissa. His remark that the communal violence in the Kandhamal district last year was a 'blot' on the state immediately had Rudra Narayan Pany (BJP) on his feet in protest.

Ahluwalia, who was seated on the front bench, immediately turned around and gestured to Pany to pipe down. Pany did so for a while but then was at it again, this time using the word 'nikammi' (incompetent) to describe the Orissa government.

This time, Ahluwalia got up, walked up to Pany and admonished him.