Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan addressing a press conference at BJP headquarters in Delhi on December 19, 2024. Photo courtesy: Shivkumar Pushpakar
The BJP on Thursday accused the Congress of undermining Indian democracy and the Constitution by behaving “erraticly and shamefully” inside the Parliament premises. Rahul Gandhi was not fit to be the Leader of the Opposition (Lok Sabha).
The ruling party accused Mr. Gandhi of injuring its MPs Pratap Chandra Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput when they tried to force their way into Parliament.
BJP MP from Nagaland, S. Phangon Konyak complained to the Rajya Sabha Speaker, claiming that Mr. Gandhi had come too close for his comfort and was shouting during the incident, which allegedly upset him.
Defense Minister and Deputy Leader of the House in Lok Sabha Rajnath Singh told the media that such incidents should not happen in a healthy democracy. Mr. Singh and other BJP leaders went to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital to inquire about the health of Mr. Sarangi and Mr. Rajput.
BJP MPs Anurag Singh Thakur, Bansuri Swaraj and Hemang Joshi filed a complaint against Mr Gandhi under sections 109 (attempt to murder), 115 (voluntarily causing hurt), 117 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt), 125 (endangering life or personal safety). were of others), 131 (punishment for assault or criminal force otherwise than on the grave) 351 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Judicial Code at the Parliament Road police station and incitement.
At a press conference, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that his party expected an apology from Mr. Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.
However, their press conference showed arrogance instead of remorse… I have been a member of the State Assembly or Lok Sabha dozens of times and have seen the conduct of other members closely. What happened in the Parliament today cannot even be imagined in a civilized society,’ he said.
About the incident, Mr. Chauhan said: “MPs of any party have the right to register their protest on any issue, Congress too had been protesting for the past few days. Their MPs would gather at Makardwar, so we either chose another gate or used a sidestep to enter the premises without disturbing them. Today, when the BJP MPs were protesting at Makardwar, Rahul Gandhi reached there. The security personnel asked him to take a sidestep, but he deliberately walked towards the BJP MPs.
Accusing Mr Gandhi of being involved in “hooliganism”, the Union minister said Mr Sarangi had suffered a head injury after being pushed down and had to be taken to hospital. “Rajput was unconscious when Sriman met him. An MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scan is being done…,” he said.
“Would such an act be done in the parliament? Will physical force be used instead of relying on logic?” he asked.
Mr. Chauhan said that the BJP woman MP was treated in a “humiliating, rude and indecent manner” and that such behavior was against Indian culture. ‘Whenever I go to a public event, I wash my daughter’s feet. No one can imagine such behavior with a tribal woman MP. What happened to Rahul Gandhi and Congress?
“And, when we broke all norms and reached the Lok Sabha at 2 pm, they stood on the Speaker’s dais… Congress and its allies damaged the dignity of Parliament,” the Union minister wondered, “in which direction? Congress has brought democracy to the country.”
published – December 19, 2024 at 10:34 am IST