Action taken after BJP complaint Two MPs were injured in the clash Delhi Police booked opposition leader Rahul Gandhi on charges of voluntarily causing grievous hurt, use of criminal force and criminal intimidation under sections of the Indian Penal Code between members of the ruling NDA and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party at the Parliament premises on Thursday.
The police were yet to act on a complaint by the Congress against BJP MPs who allegedly pushed Congress president and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjuna Kharge to the floor and injured him.
On the last day of the Parliament’s winter session, at Makardwar, the main entrance of the Parliament, both parties lodged a complaint with the police after their members threw sticks at each other, accusing them of defaming the name of Dr. BR Ambedkar. , resulting in injuries to two BJP MPs, allegations and counter-allegations and a petition to the Speaker.
The BJP alleged that the MPs – former Union Ministers Pratap Chandra Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput – were injured after Rahul Gandhi fell after pushing them, while the Congress wrote to Speaker Om Birla claiming Gandhi was “physically abused” by three ruling party MPs. .
Nagaland BJP MP S Phanganon Konyak told the Rajya Sabha that she “felt really uncomfortable” when Gandhi “came too close” to her during the protest. “He started shouting at me, which I think is very unbecoming of an opposition leader,” she said.
Meanwhile, Kharge wrote to the Speaker that “BJP MPs physically pushed him” and demanded a probe.
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha with injured BJP MP Pratap Chandra Sarangi on Thursday. (PTI)
After BJP’s Vadodara MP Hemang Joshi filed a complaint against Gandhi, the police along with party MPs Anurag Thakur and Bansuri Swaraj went to Parliament Street police station to act on the complaint.
DCP (New Delhi) Devesh Mahala said, “An FIR has been registered against Rahul Gandhi and others under sections 115 (voluntarily causing hurt), 117 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt), 131 (use of criminal force), 351 (criminal intimidation). and 3(5) (general purpose). Further investigation is underway.”
When asked about the complaint filed by the Congress, Mahala said, ‘Another complaint is also being investigated. We are checking its contents. “
Reacting to the FIR against Gandhi, Congress media and publicity department president Pawan Khera told The Indian Express: “We have also submitted a complaint. We are waiting for the police to convert it into an FIR.”
Asked about the BJP’s allegations in the FIR, Khera said: “The whole world has seen what happened. Let the law take its course. We will fight legally. We are still waiting for our complaint to be converted into an FIR.”
In his complaint, Joshi had alleged that he staged a “peaceful demonstration” at the Makardwar entrance of Parliament along with Mukesh Rajput and Pratap Rao Sarangi and other MPs at 10 am.
“The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha arrived at the venue between 10.40 am and 10.45 am. Despite the request to take the designated entry route from Parliament security, Mr. Rahul Gandhi, with the malicious intention of disrupting the protest and causing physical harm, the NDA Members of Parliament ignored the instructions and forcefully pushed towards the peaceful protesters. ” the complaint said.
“Mr. Rahul Gandhi and others not only violated the directions of the security personnel to take a dedicated route to ensure the safety concerns of the protesting MPs, he also incited other INDI coalition members to proceed with force and aggression towards the NDA MPs. The safety of the protesters was at risk. MP Mr. Mukesh Rajput standing on the narrow staircase at the entrance. And they deliberately used physical force on Mr. Pratap Rao Sarang and others,” Joshi said.
In its complaint, the Congress has alleged that BJP leaders misbehaved with Kharge. “Eighty-two-year-old Dalit leader Mallikarjun Kharge was pushed around and abused,” Congress MP Pramod Tiwari said. He was accompanied by party MPs Digvijay Singh, Mukul Wasnik and Rajeev Shukla.
In their complaint, the MPs said Kharge, Gandhi, Vadra, KC Venugopal and others were “holding a peaceful protest against the hateful remarks made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah”.
“While the protest was completely peaceful in nature and was marked by displaying placards and images of late Dr BR Ambedkar, some unscrupulous MPs (MPs) belonging to the BJP stood on the road of the protest march with the intention of creating ruckus. Despite repeated attempts to disrupt the peaceful protest, opposition MPs They didn’t move… To stop the protest march, BJP MPs used physical force by pushing Mr. Kharge ji to the ground Dangi and others,” the complaint said, seeking an FIR against the BJP MPs for causing hurt, assault and use of criminal force.
BJP leaders accused Gandhi of behaving in an “undemocratic” manner. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said, “The opposition leader pushed the MPs…pushed the MPs so hard that there was blood and they were hospitalized.”
On the other hand, the Congress has accused the BJP of ‘hooliganism’.
Defending Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra told reporters, “We have been protesting for many days and there is a place where people can enter freely… Today, for the first time, they (BJP MPs) protested and stopped everyone and then intervened.” Pushing and ‘hooliganism’. And now to save Amit Shah’s skin, Bhaiya has started this conspiracy. Khargezi was pushed to the ground before my eyes Pushed an MP who fell on Kharge G. I thought he might have broken his leg as he was visibly injured on his face.”
The unprecedented scenes disrupted the proceedings of the Parliament and it could not transact any business. In the afternoon, the Congress MP tried to climb the speaker’s platform carrying Ambedkar’s photo and shouting slogans. Both ruling and opposition MPs raised slogans of ‘Jai Bhim’.
Chaotic scenes erupted outside in the morning when MPs from the NDA and the Bharat Group staged separate protests inside Parliament premises over Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s comments about Ambedkar. While the NDA MPs were protesting at Makardwar, Bharat Bloc MPs led by Gandhi and Vadra came to the rally from Ambedkar’s statue in the premises carrying pictures of Ambedkar.
When the BJP MPs were on the steps to reach the entrance, opposition MPs led by Gandhi insisted that they be allowed to enter the building – not through the place suggested by the security personnel but through the Centre. Failing that, Congress MPs KC Venugopal, Hibi Eden, Jothimani S, Praniti Shinde and a few others climbed the wall near the stairs with Ambedkar’s photo and raised slogans. Security personnel were seen struggling to bring them down. Amid the strike, Congress MPs led by Vadra sat in protest at the main gate of the old Parliament building while both sides raised slogans.
“I don’t know if you have it on camera, but at the entrance of Parliament, I was trying to enter when BJP MPs tried to stop me, pushed me, and threatened me… Pushing us won’t do anything. But this is the entrance of Parliament, and coming here Our right is… The central issue is that they are attacking the Constitution and insulting the memory of Ambedkarji,” Gandhi said.
In the midst of the clash, Sarangi fell and got an injury on his forehead. Sarangi, whose forehead was bleeding while being taken to the hospital, said that while entering Parliament, Gandhi pushed the MP, who fell on her and was injured. Sarangi claimed that he was standing near the stairs when Gandhi came and pushed another MP. Sarangi and Rajput were injured in the clash and taken to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.
Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr. Ajay Shukla, said that both MPs were brought from the Parliament with head injuries. ‘Both are in the ICU. We are trying to stabilize them,’ he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Sarangi and Rajput to inquire about their health condition. Several BJP leaders, including Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Shivraj Singh Chauhan and Prahlad Joshi, visited the two MPs at the hospital.
Footage of the protest showed Gandhi walking past a group of BJP MPs who were trying to help the 69-year-old lift the sarangi. “Rahul, are you not ashamed? You are resorting to hooliganism. You pushed an old man,” said BJP MP Nishikant Dubey. “He pushed me,” Gandhi shot back at Dubey.
When the BJP accused Gandhi of injuring two of its MPs, Kharge wrote to the Speaker that he was “physically pushed by BJP MPs” as he approached Makar Dwar.
“Then, I lost my balance and was forced to sit on the floor. It hurt my knee which has already been operated on. Then Congress MPs brought a chair and made me sit on it. With much difficulty and support from my colleagues, I reached the House at 11 am. I request you to order an inquiry into this incident of attack not only personally but also on the Leader of Opposition, the Rajya Sabha and the Congress President,” he said.
In a separate letter to the Speaker, a group of Congress MPs claimed that Gandhi was physically abused by three ruling party MPs. “We hope you will treat this matter very seriously and take appropriate action,” they said.
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