Parl sees new low, 2 BJP MPs hurt in scuffle; Rahul booked

Parliament on Thursday witnessed a new low as MPs of the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress clashed, leading to the hospitalisation of two BJP lawmakers and an FIR against Rahul Gandhi for an alleged assault on the duo.

After a day of unprecedented chaos that began with counter protests by rivals over the legacy of BR Ambedkar, the BJP accused Rahul of displaying “un-Indian conduct by pushing and shoving its MPs”.

Speaker OM Birla’s diktat against dharna at parl gates

After political protests turned ugly, LS Speaker Om Birla on Thursday banned demonstrations by MPs and political parties at any of the gates of Parliament. “The LS Speaker has issued strict instructions that no political party, MP or groups of members will hold any dharna at the building gates of Parliament House,” a source said.

Kharge submits privilege notice in RS against Shah

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday submitted a privilege notice against Home Minister Amit Shah for his remarks against BR Ambedkar. Kharge alleged the remarks were an insult to the architect of the Constitution and amounted to breach of privilege and contempt of the House.

The BJP said Rahul was unsuitable for the high constitutional position of the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

The BJP’s allegation was that Rahul “deliberately cut through a mass of protesting BJP MPs to enter Parliament today and in the process grievously injured Balasore MP Pratap Sarangi, Farrukhabad MP Mukesh Rajput and came too close for comfort to one of its women MPs, Phangnon Konyak, who complained about the incident to Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar”.

The Congress, led by its president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul, denied all charges, saying it was the BJP’s attempt to deflect attention from the “disrespect Home Minister Amit Shah showed to the architect of the Constitution, BR Ambedkar”.

Kharge and Rahul reiterated their demand for Shah’s apology and resignation and said the Congress would launch a nationwide movement on the matter.

Rahul also said he did not push anyone and was, in fact, prevented from entering Parliament by BJP MPs who, countering him, said: “Rahul did not take the side passage to enter the House and deliberately came through the agitating BJP members.”

Starting early this morning, the political opponents indulged in competitive sloganeering in Parliament seeking one another’s apology. While the BJP said the Congress had always undermined Ambedkar and used his name for politics, the Congress said the BJP and the RSS were anti-Constitution.

As charges flew thick and fast, the BJP fielded union ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Piyush Goyal, who attacked Rahul for “pushing Sarangi, causing bleeding in his head, injuring Mukesh Rajput and coming too close to a woman MP”.

“Everyone has seen what Rahul did. His conduct was un-Indian because Indian culture does not teach us to disrespect women or push elders. Such a person is not fit to stay the Leader of the Opposition,” said Chouhan, signalling the BJP’s potential future strategy against Rahul, who had once earlier been disqualified from the LS in March 2023 after a Surat court held him guilty of defamation.

Asked if the BJP would seek Rahul’s expulsion, Chouhan said, “We will do whatever is legal.”

The Agriculture Minister said both Sarangi and Rajput were in the hospital undergoing an MRI. Chouhan also slammed Kharge and Rahul for calling today’s events a distraction. “They assault our MPs, misbehave and then dare to say we are distracting,” the minister said even as Kharge said it was he who was injured in the morning fracas when both sides marched towards each other in protests.

“I was pushed so hard that I had to sit down,” said Kharge as Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several senior opposition MPs backed Rahul in the midst of the BJP charges.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also defended Rahul saying he would never push anyone. Goyal, however, alleged that Rahul assaulted Sarangi, who fell on Rajput, injuring both. “A woman TDP MP, who offered support to Sarangi, had her clothes stained in blood. Rahul came and saw Sarangi, but instead of showing concern, he left saying nothing had happened,” alleged Goyal. In between, Kharge gave a notice of privilege against Shah in the Rajya Sabha for allegedly insulting Ambedkar during his remarks in the House.

On the FIR against Rahul, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said, “It is nothing but a diversionary tactic in response to his staunch protest against the Home Minister. A case against him for defending Babasaheb’s legacy is a badge of honour.”