NN Desk :
The winter session of the Indian Parliament concluded in chaos, with the central government referring the ‘One Nation, One Election’ bill to a 39-member joint parliamentary committee for further review.
Meanwhile, an FIR has been filed against Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, for allegedly pushing two Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs during a scuffle in the Parliament complex. The complaint, filed by BJP MP Hemang Joshi, accuses Gandhi of assault and criminal intimidation. Gandhi has been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including sections 115 (voluntarily causing hurt), 117 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt), 125 (endangering life), 131 (assault), 351 (criminal intimidation), and sections 3/5 (common intention) of the BNSS. Officials stated that Gandhi would be summoned for questioning, and the Lok Sabha Secretariat’s CCTV footage of the incident would be reviewed.
The FIR against Gandhi comes amid growing tensions in Parliament, stoked by remarks made by Home Minister Amit Shah during a debate on the Constitution. Shah’s controversial statement on Dr. B.R. Ambedkar-“It has become a fashion now to say ‘Ambedkar’ repeatedly. Had you taken God’s name so many times, you would have gained heaven over seven lifetimes”-was met with sharp criticism from opposition parties. On December 19, members of the INDIA bloc staged protests against Shah’s comments at Makar Dwar in Parliament, raising slogans against the BJP. In response, BJP MPs held counter-protests, accusing Congress of historically disrespecting Ambedkar, citing incidents from decades ago.
The scuffle reportedly broke out during these confrontations, with BJP alleging that Gandhi pushed MPs Pratap Chandra Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput, causing injuries. Sarangi claimed to have been hospitalised in the ICU after another MP, allegedly pushed by Gandhi, fell on him. Congress refuted these claims, accusing BJP MPs of physically manhandling Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. In a counter-complaint, Congress accused BJP MPs of physically assaulting Gandhi and Kharge, endangering the latter’s life. “BJP MPs exerted physical force on Shri Kharge, pushing him to the ground. This inflicted bodily injuries on him and other Congress MPs,” the complaint stated, supported by video evidence.
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticised the FIR against Rahul Gandhi, calling it a “desperate attempt” by the BJP to divert attention from Shah’s controversial remarks. A Congress delegation, including Digvijaya Singh, Mukul Wasnik, Rajiv Shukla, and Pramod Tiwari, submitted a formal police complaint urging action against the BJP MPs involved.
While the police promptly registered the FIR against Gandhi based on the BJP’s complaint, no FIR has been filed regarding Congress’ allegations of physical assault on Kharge, who is over 80 years old. Congress leaders have criticised this selective action, questioning the authorities’ impartiality. The incident has heightened the already volatile political climate, with both sides exchanging allegations of misconduct and violence. As investigations continue, the clash highlights the deepening divides in Indian politics and the charged atmosphere within Parliament.
