New Delhi: Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju and Dharmendra Pradhan demanded an apology from Leader of opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi for using force against women in Parliament complex after two BJP MP – Pratap Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput – were injured during a commotion on Thursday.
The tense political stand-off took place outside Makar Dawar, the Parliament’s main door. “… how can he use force in Parliament? Under which law does he have the power to physically assault other MPs?” Rijiju asked.
Taking a jibe at Rahul, who holds a black belt in Aikido, a contemporary Japanese martial art, he added: “Have you learnt karate, kung fu, to beat other MPs?”
Narrating the incident, Dharmendra said that tribal BJP MP from Northeast Phangnon Konyak along with other members of the party were protesting against Congress for insulting Dr B R Ambedkar. “..He (Rahul Gandhi) pushed forcefully. Due to this, around 3-4 MPs fell and in it, BJP MPs Pratap Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput were badly injured. Our MP is admitted to the ICU, with stitches on their head…,” he said.
In a post on X, the union Minister also demanded an apology from Rahul. “The Parliament is not his personal fiefdom. His arrogance, sense of entitlement and feudal behaviour today has caused grievous injuries to elected MPs and has put life in danger. Strongly disapprove his behaviour and tantrums. No amount of condemnation is enough for his juvenile act. The least he owes is an apology,” he wrote.
Leader of Rajya Sabha J P Nadda also condemned the LoP’s conduct with BJP MPs.
BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi shared a picture on X after visiting Sarangi at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Delhi. “Went to the hospital to know about his condition. Spoke to the doctors. Pray to God -he recovers soon,” she wrote.
Dharmendra also visited him at the hospital.
The Balasore MP had claimed that he sustained injuries after Rahul pushed another MP, who fell on him. Rahul, however, retorted saying that a group of BJP MPs blocked his way to Parliament, pushed and shoved him and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, leading to the clash.
“We are evaluating their condition and trying to stabilise them. Both of them are in the ICU. Mukesh Rajput fell unconscious after sustaining a head injury, he is experiencing anxiety and dizziness. The BP of both of them had shot up. Sarangi ji was also experiencing a lot of bleeding…He had suffered a deep cut on his forehead. So, he had to be stitched up…Their MRI has not been done yet…Once they are a little stable, their further evaluation will be done…8-10 people (team of doctors) are in the ICU…,” RML MS Dr Ajay Shukla told ANI.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also called up the injured BJP MPs and inquired about their health.
Meanwhile, BJP legal team along with party MPs Anurag Thakur and Bansuri Swaraj and others reached Parliament Street police station to file a complaint against the Congress leader.
Konyak has also shot a letter to Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, accusing the Congress leader of misbehaving with her while she, along with other MPs, was protesting below the staircase of Parliament. She claimed the security personnel had cordoned and created a passage for MPs of other parties but “Rahul Gandhi ji came in front of me… misbehaved with me in a loud voice and his physical proximity to me was so close that I being a lady member felt extremely uncomfortable.”
“My dignity and self-esteem has been deeply hurt by LoP Rahul Gandhi,” she added.
Congress MPs also submitted a complain to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla over misconduct of BJP MPs against Rahul Gandhi. Women MPs from the party also marched to the police station to file their complaints, alleging that three BJP MPs “physically manhandled” Rahul while he and his party colleagues were peacefully marching from a statue of Ambedkar in Parliament complex.
In a related development, Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh dismissed the Opposition’s impeachment notice seeking the removal of the chairman, sources told news agency PTI.
