High drama ensued outside the Parliament on Thursday after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Pratap Chandra Sarangi claimed that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi pushed an MP, resulting in him getting injured.
Rahul Gandhi responded to the allegations and claimed that BJP MPs were the ones who obstructed and pushed him whilst he was entering the Parliament premises.
The incident took place when the protesting INDIA bloc and the BJP MPs came face to face in front of Makar Dwar in Parliament.
Here are the latest developments:
Congress shares video of BJP MPs stopping party MPs
The Congress shared a video of MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and party chief Kharge being stopped by BJP MPs from entering the Parliament. Kharge also submitted a privilege notice against Amit shah for his “insulting remarks on Dr Ambedkar in the Rajya Sabha”.
Rahul counters allegations
Rahul strongly denied allegations that he pushed a BJP MP which resulted in the MP sustaining head injuries. Rahul claimed that it was the BJP MPs who tried to “stop him and threatened him.”
The LoP in Lok Sabha further alleged that it was BJP MPs who pushed Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and stopped them from going inside the Parliament.
‘Rahul pushed an MP’
The protests reached a tipping point when BJP MP from Balasore Pratap Chandra Sarangi alleged that he was injured when Rahul Gandhi “pushed an MP who fell on me after which I fell down.” Sarangi also claimed that he suffered a head injury as a result of the scuffle.
Opposition continues protest
The opposition on Thursday intensified its protest demanding the resignation of Union home minister Amit Shah with protests in the Parliament complex, with posters that read, ‘Main Bhi Ambedkar’, ‘Jai Bhim’ and ‘Amit Shah maafi maango’.
Rahul was leading the charge dressed in Blue, a colour associated with BR Ambedkar and staged a walk to the Makar Dar of Parliament. Amidst the constant sloganeering demanding the resignation of the Union home minister with some INDIA bloc MP climbing the wall at the Makar Dwar.
Murdered democracy in our country: BJP hits back at Cong
Meanwhile the BJP, called the Congress “hypocrites, who murdered democracy” in the country. The party further added that it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who “gave cognisance to Ambedkar’s last-mile delivery policy,” and accused the grand old party of “misusing” the name of Ambedkar.
Party chief JP Nadda slammed the “Congress rotten eco-system” and alleged that former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru “hated” Ambedkar, “Yes, it was unfiltered hate,” he said in a post on X.
Nadda continued his onslaught by citing the grand old party’s poll record in the recent elections in Haryana and Maharashtra and urged the party to “stop lying…because your lies will not go unchecked.”
BJP MP Bansuari Swaraj also slammed the Congress and said: “Congress murdered democracy in our country. Now they are hypocritically positioning themselves as the protectors of the constitution… Congress party has been misusing the name of Babasaheb Ambedkar for their political selfishness. They should apologise to the country.”
Congress submits suspension of business notice
Earlier in the day, Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala gave a suspension of business notice in the Rajya Sabha to discuss Shah’s remarks.
On Wednesday, opposition parties strongly criticised Home Minister Amit Shah’s comments on B R Ambedkar, calling for his resignation over what they described as an insult to the architect of the Constitution. The attack from nearly all opposition parties, including Congress, TMC, DMK, RJD, Left parties, and Shiv Sena-UBT, led to the adjournment of both Houses of Parliament.
In response, the BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, defended Shah. TMC MP Derek O’Brien also submitted a notice for a privilege motion against Shah in the Rajya Sabha, where the home minister had said Congress leaders would have found a place in heaven had they chanted God’s name instead of repeating Ambedkar’s.
Protests erupted in Delhi, Maharashtra, Bihar, and Tamil Nadu, with Arvind Kejriwal leading a demonstration outside the BJP office.
