Delhi Police Likely to question Rahul Gandhi over scuffle allegations
North News
New Delhi, December 20
The Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla, has referred two bills aimed at establishing a framework for simultaneous elections to a joint parliamentary committee. The panel comprises 39 members, with representation from both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The committee includes 27 MPs from the Lok Sabha and 12 from the Rajya Sabha. Its mandate is to review the bills and provide recommendations to the Lok Sabha Speaker. The Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill and the Union Territories Amendment Bill were introduced in the Lok Sabha on December 17, following an intense debate.
While the Winter Session of Parliament concluded on Friday, marked by a series of protests, scuffles, and police complaints. The final day saw the Lok Sabha adjourned sine die amid heightened tensions. Protests erupted over alleged remarks against Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Speaker Om Birla’s directive barring demonstrations at Parliament gates.
A day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was booked in connection with a scuffle on Parliament premises, the Delhi Police are expected to record statements from two injured MPs and may also summon Gandhi for questioning.
The case against the Leader of Opposition (LoP) was filed on Thursday following a complaint by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing him of “physical assault and incitement” during the altercation. The incident reportedly occurred during protests over Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks on Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
Tensions erupted between MPs of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition INDIA bloc, with each side trading accusations of misconduct. Three NDA MPs, including Anurag Thakur and Bansuri Swaraj, filed a police complaint against Gandhi, alleging charges such as attempted murder and causing grievous harm.
Thakur claimed Gandhi incited violence and physically assaulted MPs near Parliament’s Makar Dwar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with injured BJP MPs Pratap Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput. Sarangi, 69, who suffered a head injury, was admitted to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh assured the public that both MPs were stable but would remain under observation for a few days.
BJP president JP Nadda condemned Gandhi’s actions, calling them a breach of parliamentary privilege and a violation of democratic principles. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju demanded a public apology, urging the Congress party to uphold parliamentary decorum.
Rahul Gandhi, however, denied the allegations. He accused BJP MPs of trying to block and push him as he entered Parliament. Gandhi claimed the altercation was a reaction to the BJP’s “assaults on the Constitution” and disrespect for Dr. Ambedkar’s legacy.
The incident has further strained relations between the government and the opposition, intensifying concerns about parliamentary conduct and decorum.
