Case against Rahul Gandhi for ‘grievously hurting’ BJP MPs, Congress counters
The Delhi Police has registered an FIR against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday based on a complaint filed by BJP MP Hemang Joshi, as per sources.
The complainant accused Gandhi of “physical assault and incitement” during a scuffle in the Parliament premises.
The case was registered under Sections 115 (voluntary causing hurt), 117 (voluntary causing grievous hurt), 125 (act of endangering life or personal safety of others), 131 (use of criminal force), 351 (criminal intimidation) and 3(5) (common intention to commit crime) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, according to sources.
PARLIAMENT ‘ASSAULT’ ROW
The confrontation between BJP and Congress erupted over remarks made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Dr BR Ambedkar in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. His remarks sparked a furious response from the Congress leaders and led to protests outside Parliament on Wednesday and Thursday. Protests by the INDIA bloc were countered by BJP MPs, escalating tensions. Clashes outside Parliament between the Congress and the BJP leaders on Thursday involved allegations of physical assault.
BJP leaders Hemang Joshi, Anurag Thakur, and Bansuri Swaraj visited the Parliament Street Police Station to file a complaint against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi.
In his complaint, Joshi alleged, “At around 10 am, I along with Mukesh Rajput ji, Pratap Rao Sarangi ji, and other Members of Parliament belonging to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) were peacefully demonstrating.” He claimed that Gandhi arrived around 10:40 am and “forcefully barged toward the peaceful demonstrators” despite security instructions, which he said endangered the safety of the MPs.
Joshi also accused Gandhi and other opposition members of instigating physical aggression that led to injuries. “Mukesh Rajput sustained a severe injury to the back of his head, and Sarangi was hurt on his forehead,” Joshi alleged in the complaint.
BJP leader Anurag Thakur, addressing reporters, called for a “thorough investigation” and demanded action under various sections of the BNS, including 109 (attempt to murder), 115 (voluntary causing hurt), and 131 (use of criminal force). Thakur also alleged misconduct by Gandhi toward a female BJP MP from Nagaland.
In a counterclaim, the Congress strongly denied the allegations, accusing BJP MPs of pushing party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and “physically manhandling” Rahul Gandhi.
A delegation of Congress MPs, including Digvijaya Singh and Mukul Wasnik, filed a complaint with the police, alleging BJP MPs’ misconduct. Congress MPs have written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, urging him to investigate the matter.
‘DEFENDING AMBEDKAR’S LEGACY IS NOT A CRIME’
The FIR filed against Rahul Gandhi was described as a “diversionary tactic” by Congress MP Manickam Tagore, who accused Amit Shah and his allies of attempting to silence dissent. Speaking about the issue, Tagore said, “Defending Babasaheb Ambedkar’s legacy is a badge of honour, not a crime.”
He criticised the Delhi Police for allegedly ignoring complaints lodged by Congress women MPs against BJP leaders for assault. Tagore noted that despite 26 FIRs, which he called politically motivated, Gandhi and the Congress party would continue their opposition to the “RSS-BJP regime.”