Lawmakers at the Italian Parliament clashed over a bill on Wednesday, a video of which was widely shared on the internet. The incident came as Italy began to host world leaders for the annual Group of Seven (G7) Summit in Puglia.
According to various media reports, the bill sought to grant certain regions further autonomy.
Meanwhile, opponents of the proposal asserted it would further exacerbate the north-south divide in the country and bring more hardship to the impoverished south.
The video showed opposition party member Leonardo Donno attempting to give an Italian flag to Minister Roberto Calderoli.
As Donno approaches, Calderoli rejects the tricolor flag and backs away. Within seconds, others in the lower chamber join the fray, shoving one another and throwing punches into the crowd.
Hours after the video went viral, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani expressed regret over the incident, saying, he had "no words".
"We need to set another example, not punches to resolve political problems," he told Italy's Sky TG24 news channel.
During the G7 Summit, which runs from Thursday through Saturday, Italy is welcoming leaders from the European Union and six other nations, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden.
Source: India Today