BJP Odisha Chief Slams Scuffle in Parliament, Calls It a “Dark Chapter”
The Odisha unit president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Manmohan Samal, condemned a scuffle that took place in Parliament in New Delhi on Thursday. The incident left BJP MPs Pratap Chandra Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput injured. Samal criticized the altercation, calling it “goondaism” and a dark moment in Indian democracy. He also took aim at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of showing “behavioral imbalance” and claiming that the entire nation disapproved of the act.
Samal expressed his wishes for a speedy recovery for the two injured BJP MPs, who are reportedly being treated at Delhi’s Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital. He emphasized that no one has the right to harm respected members of Parliament. Furthermore, he accused the Congress party of disrespecting leaders like B.R. Ambedkar and alleged that Congress only respects the “Gandhi family.” Samal also stated that while the BJP respects the Constitution, Congress has a history of misusing it.
What Happened During the Scuffle?
The confrontation occurred during a protest by Opposition MPs inside Parliament, who were alleging disrespect toward Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. During the commotion, BJP MP Pratap Sarangi accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of pushing another MP, which led to Sarangi falling and sustaining a head injury. Sarangi stated, “Rahul Gandhi pushed an MP, and he collided with me. I fell and hit my head, which is bleeding. The push was initiated by Rahul Gandhi.”
The protest was sparked by remarks made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the Rajya Sabha, which the Opposition claimed were disrespectful to B.R. Ambedkar. The situation quickly escalated into a physical altercation.
BJP and Congress Exchange Accusations
In response to the clash, BJP MPs launched a counter-protest, accusing Congress of disrespecting the Constitution and Ambedkar. Led by BJP MP Anurag Thakur, they raised slogans like “Congress party maafi maango, Ambedkar ka apmaan nahi sahega Hindustan” (Congress must apologize; India will not tolerate the insult to Ambedkar).
On the other hand, Rahul Gandhi denied the allegations of deliberately pushing anyone. Speaking to reporters, Gandhi said, “It might be recorded in the cameras. The BJP MPs were stopping us from entering Parliament. They blocked and threatened us. This is our right to protest.”
The Fallout
The incident has sparked sharp criticism and protests from both sides, with allegations of misconduct flying back and forth. It has also raised concerns about the escalating tensions between political parties during parliamentary sessions.
