Parl scuffle: FIR filed against Rahul Gandhi after BJP accuses him of physical assault, incitement

Delhi police on Dec 19 registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) filed a complaint accusing him of "physical assault and incitement" during a scuffle in Parliament premises.

The scuffle later led to protests by members of the National Democratic Alliance and counter-protests by the India-bloc members led by Gandhi.

The BJP and Congress members traded allegations of each using force to prevent rivals from entering the House.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju claimed that two members — Pratap Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput — were "seriously hurt" by Gandhi as the government and the Opposition members began the day with protests outside Parliament's Makar Dawar.

Amid allegations and counter-allegations, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge wrote on X that his knees had been hurt in the protests.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly spoke to Sarangi and Rajput, both of whom have been admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, sources were quoted as saying.

BJP MP Hemang Joshi, accompanied by party colleagues Anurag Thakur and Bansuri Swaraj filed the complaint at the Parliament Street Police Station seeking Gandhi’s indictment under sections of attempt to murder and other charges.

Following this, an FIR under section 117 (voluntary causing grievous hurt), 125 (the act of endangering life or personal safety of others), 131 (use of criminal force), 351 (criminal intimidation), and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) was registered, a police officer was quoted as saying.

Claiming it was BJP’s new ploy to divert attention from the uproar and discussion over industrialist Gautam Adani's indictment in the US and Union Home Minister Amit Shah's "Ambedkar is the fashion" remark, Gandhi refuted the BJP's charge that he shoved the ruling party's MPs and hurt two members at the House entrance.

"A few days before the Parliament session, the Adani case came up in America and the BJP tried to stop the discussion on it. The basic strategy of the BJP was that there should be no discussion on the Adani case, it should be suppressed... After that Amit Shah's statement came and we have been saying from the beginning that the thinking of the BJP and the RSS is anti-Constitution, anti-Ambedkar," he told reporters.

Gandhi flanked by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge sought Shah's apology and resignation over his remarks on Ambedkar.

"They want to erase the memories and contributions of Ambedkar ji. We said the home minister (Amit Shah) should apologize and resign...Today again they have started a new distraction. We were peacefully going to Parliament House from Ambedkar's statue. BJP MPs did not let us go inside...The reality is that they have insulted Dr BR Ambedkar.” he said.

“The main issue they want to erase is that there is a case against Narendra Modi's friend Adani in the United States and Narendra Modi is selling India to Adani. This is the main issue and these people do not want to discuss it," he added.

Responding to the allegations, the BJP said that Gandhi and Kharge "showed their arrogance".

"Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi just did a press conference. We thought they would apologize for what they did today. But they did not. I did not understand why they did a press conference. It displayed their arrogance.” Union Minister Shivraj Chouhan told reporters.

“I have been seeing his behavior. But what he (Rahul Gandhi) did today is unimaginable by a civilized society... Today when BJP MPs were opposing at the Makar Dwar, Rahul Gandhi came there. Security personnel told them to use the other space on the side to enter. But he came there on purpose," he added.

Chouhan said Gandhi indulged in "goondaism" and "purposely and in a planned way scuffled with BJP MPs and resorted to violence".

"Congress and other MPs have been staging protests at Makar Dwar almost daily and we also enter Parliament without disturbing them. However, Rahul Gandhi purposely and in a planned way scuffled with BJP MPs and resorted to violence," he claimed.

Meanwhile, Phangnon Konyak, BJP MP from Nagaland accused Rahul Gandhi of coming closer to her in Parliament premises, thereby making her extremely uncomfortable.

The first woman to be elected to the Rajya Sabha from Nagaland, Konyak also alleged that the Congress leader started yelling at her near the entrance of Parliament. The MP added that Gandhi's act today defied the parliamentary etiquette that is expected from a parliamentarian.

"LoP Rahul Gandhi came close. I did not like it and he started shouting...Whatever happened today is very sad, this should not happen. We did not like the way they threatened...I have also complained to the Chairman," she told reporters outside the Parliament.

"I belong to the ST community of Nagaland and I am a lady member. My dignity and self-esteem has been deeply hurt by LoP, Shri Rahul Gandhi ji. Therefore, Hon'ble Chairman sir, I seek your protection," she added.

Earlier, in a letter to Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankar, she alleged, “He 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. I stepped aside with heavy heart and denounced my democratic rights but felt that no Member of Parliament should behave this way,"

All India Trinamool Congress MP Sushmita Dev slammed Konyak for allegedly playing the victim card and peddling lies.

“When MP @SPhangnon came into Rajya Sabha, I believed she would be the voice of people's rights of Nagaland & North East instead she is being used by the @BJP4India to play the victim card & peddle lies. She has also remained a mute spectator over atrocities in Manipur.” Dev posted on X.

“What a fall from grace! In my view her version of the incidents today targeting Gandhi ( LOP LS) is untenable & unfortunate!” she added.

Commenting on the face-off between Gandhi and BJP woman MP, Deputy Leader Trinamool Congress (TMC), and MP Rajya Sabha, Sagarika Ghose said the mask is falling and the real face of the BJP is revealed.

“MP & Deputy Leader TMC Rajya Sabha said with Sad day when the ruling party @BJP4India blocks the entrance to Parliament and pushes and jostles opposition MPs. With every passing day, the mask is falling and the real face of the @BJP4India is being revealed. Unheard of, the ruling party whose duty is to run Parliament is itself creating pandemonium. Shows you what they really are— a force of anarchy. BJP first insults #BRAmbedkar and then indulges in disruption and unruly behavior.” Ghosh wrote on X.

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra described the BJP's allegations as a "conspiracy to save Shah's skin". She also accused the ruling party MPs of indulging in "goondagardi" to stop peacefully protesting opposition members from entering Parliament.

The BJP accused Rahul Gandhi of pushing 69-year-old Sarangi, a charge denied by the Congress leader.

"We have been protesting for so many days and there is always space for people to enter freely. Peaceful protests are taking place daily from 10.30 am to 11 am. Today, for the first time, they (BJP MPs) protested and stopped everyone and then indulged in pushing and 'goondagardi' (hooliganism)'," she told reporters in Parliament premises.

Chief Minister Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah sought to defend Gandhi. “I know Rahul, he would not push anyone much less a member of parliament. It’s simply not in his nature to be rude or nasty to anyone,” Abdullah wrote on X.