FIR against Rahul Gandhi over Parliament clash

BJP leaders Anurag Thakur, Bansuri Swaraj, and Hemang Joshi have filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi following an altercation on the Parliament campus on Thursday. The FIR was registered with the Parliament Street police station, accusing Gandhi of inciting violence during a protest involving BJP and Congress MPs. The incident resulted in injuries to BJP MPs Mukesh Rajput and Pratap Chandra Sarangi, both of whom were hospitalized after the clash.

The confrontation occurred near the Makardwar gate of Parliament as both ruling and opposition MPs were gathered for separate protests. According to BJP MPs, the altercation began when Congress MPs attempted to enter Parliament. BJP MP Sarangi claimed that Gandhi pushed MP Rajput, causing him to fall and injure himself. Sarangi also alleged that he was injured during the scuffle, with a bleeding injury to his temple. Rajput was reported to have been in the ICU receiving treatment for his injuries. The BJP's FIR includes charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Section 109 (attempt to murder), Section 117 (voluntary causing grievous hurt), and Section 125 (assault).

In response to the BJP’s FIR, Congress filed a counter-complaint, alleging that BJP MPs had blocked Congress MPs from entering Parliament and physically confronted Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. Kharge claimed that BJP MPs pushed him, causing him to lose his balance and fall. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi also claimed that BJP MPs were hostile and threatening towards Kharge and other Congress leaders, accusing them of using sticks during the confrontation.

Congress alleged that the altercation was intended to distract attention from an ongoing protest against Home Minister Amit Shah’s controversial remarks about Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. The Congress party had planned a protest march from the statue of Ambedkar to the Makardwar gate to express their discontent with Shah’s remarks. According to Congress, as they approached the Makardwar gate, BJP MPs gathered there, blocking their path and engaging in a violent confrontation. Congress leader Digvijaya Singh stated that the ruckus created by BJP MPs was designed to shift focus away from Shah's remarks, which Congress views as an insult to Ambedkar’s legacy.

Both parties have continued to escalate the matter. Congress leaders have accused the BJP of using physical confrontation to intimidate opposition leaders and prevent them from protesting. The Congress party has vowed to continue its protests, particularly focusing on what they perceive as an attack on Dr. Ambedkar’s legacy. The BJP, on the other hand, has condemned Congress for attempting to create unrest and has stressed the need for accountability in the incident.

The situation remains tense, with the police investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. Both BJP and Congress are involved in legal actions, and the political standoff between the two parties has intensified, with both sides blaming each other for provocation and inciting violence. As investigations unfold, the incident has drawn significant attention to the rising political tensions within Parliament and between the ruling and opposition parties.