Once again, BJP and Congress MPs confronted one another at the new Parliament’s entry on Thursday, accusing one another of insulting the Dalit icon, the dispute in Parliament over Ambedkar took a nasty turn.
Opposition MPs took to the streets again, protesting at Vijay Chowk in New Delhi. The demonstration, led by Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, demanded Home Minister Amit Shah’s apology and resignation over his alleged remarks insulting B.R. Ambedkar. The protesters carried placards and raised slogans such as “Jai Bhim” and “Amit Shah Maafi Mango.” The opposition’s outrage comes after Shah’s comments sparked a heated debate, with many accusing him of disrespecting the architect of India’s Constitution.
Pratap Sarangi, a member of the BJP’s Lok Sabha, was hospitalized after sustaining a gash to his forehead, along with colleague Mukesh Rajput. Rahul Gandhi, the opposition leader, was accused by both of pushing his way past BJP MPs positioned at Makar Dwar’s main entrance.
Afterwards, complaints were made against one another by both parties. According to sources, LS Speaker Om Birla has prohibited protests at any of the Parliament gates.
Minutes before 11 a.m., when the two Houses were scheduled to meet for what would have been another tumultuous session, there was a skirmish. In protest of the Congress’s purported insult to Ambedkar, a sizable contingent of BJP MPs had assembled at the gate. Rahul chose to pass through the saffron column when he arrived.
Sarangi was soon observed bleeding and tumbling. His knee was also injured. Rahul shoved Rajput, who was standing next to him, bringing them both down, according to the 70-year-old MP from Balasore, Odisha, and his colleagues. MPs were rushed to the hospital.
Nobody is confessing their guilt. Parties accuse one another of causing conflict. Both Houses were adjourned shortly after their assembly, and then again at 2:00 PM for the day as Congress and other opposition parties persisted in their demonstrations calling for Home Minister Amit Shah to quit and an apology.
“BJP MPs were peacefully protesting against falsehoods being spread against Amit Shah on the Ambedkar issue when Rahul Gandhi and a few of his MPs physically assaulted them,” claimed Kiren Rijiju, the minister of parliamentary affairs, in a statement to reporters outside the Parliament gate. He said that CCTV footage was captured.
