New Delhi (India), December 19 : A fresh controversy erupted outside Parliament on Thursday amid ongoing protests by both Treasury and Opposition benches. BJP MP Pratap Chandra Sarangi alleged that he was injured after being “pushed” by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Sarangi claimed that while he was standing on the stairs, another MP fell on him after being pushed by Rahul Gandhi, resulting in an injury to his head.
“Rahul Gandhi pushed a member of Parliament who then fell on me, causing me to fall down as well. I was near the stairs when this happened,” Sarangi told reporters. The BJP MP was immediately taken to receive medical treatment.
In response, Rahul Gandhi denied the allegations, saying that he was also pushed and threatened by BJP MPs as he tried to enter Parliament. “This might be on camera. I was trying to go inside, but BJP MPs were blocking me, pushing and threatening me,” Gandhi explained. He also claimed that Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge was pushed during the incident.
Gandhi added that the central issue at hand was the BJP’s attack on the Constitution and its disrespect toward the legacy of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, asserting, “We do not get affected by jostling, but we have the right to enter Parliament.”
This incident occurred amid a protest by BJP MPs against Congress, accusing the party of “insulting” Ambedkar. The BJP MPs chanted slogans like “Babasaheb Ambedkar ji ka apmaan nahi chalega” (Insult to Babasaheb Ambedkar will not be tolerated) and displayed banners reading, “Ambedkar showed us the path, Congress misled.”
Union Minister Giriraj Singh, while protesting, criticized the Gandhi family for receiving the Bharat Ratna but not awarding it to Dr. Ambedkar. “Congress party is the biggest sinner for disrespecting Babasaheb,” Singh said, suggesting that the party should atone for its actions.
Meanwhile, opposition MPs, led by Rahul Gandhi, staged their own protest demanding the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah over his comments about Ambedkar. MPs including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Sanjay Raut, Mahua Moitra, and Ram Gopal Yadav wore blue clothes as a symbol of protest.
The protests led to adjournments in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. The controversy stemmed from Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks about Ambedkar in his speech attacking the Congress, which has since become a significant political issue. The Congress has demanded Shah’s resignation, while BJP leaders have criticized the opposition party.