Both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha were adjourned for the day on Thursday, following a chaotic session marked by a scuffle between MPs from the INDIA alliance and the NDA in Parliament premises.
High Drama On Penultimate Day Of Parliament Winter Session, Both Houses Adjourned Amid Ruckus Over 'Scuffle' Between MPs
File image of Rajya Sabha in session (PTI)
Published : 5 hours ago
|Updated : 22 minutes ago
The proceedings in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha were adjourned for the day on Thursday amid massive ruckus over Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks regarding B R Ambedkar and the alleged scuffle that broke out on Parliament premises between INDIA and BJP MPs.
The Parliament will reconvene at 11 am on Friday, the final day of the ongoing session, to continue discussions. The disruption highlighted the ongoing political tensions in the country's legislative body.
High drama outside Parliament
High drama unfolded outside the Parliament than inside on the penultimate day of the winter session. NDA and the opposition INDIA bloc MPs took out separate protest marches over the Ambedkar issue on Thursday and came face to face at the Makar Dwar of the Parliament House, leading to jostling in which BJP MP Pratap Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput were injured.
Both MPs were taken to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. BJP MPs alleged that Sarangi, who was seen holding his injured forehead, was pushed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha later told reporters that while he was trying to enter the Parliament House, BJP members pushed and "threatened" him.
Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, meanwhile, wrote a letter to the Lok Sabha Chair alleging that he was pushed on the stairs as BJP MPs attempted to obstruct his entry.
Dressed in blue, a colour associated with B R Ambedkar, Opposition INDIA bloc members took out a protest march on Parliament premises demanding the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah for his remarks related to the architect of the Constitution. BJP-led NDA parliamentarians also carried out a march within Parliament premises raising slogans and carrying placards demanding an apology from the opposition Congress for allegedly insulting Ambedkar.
BJP MPs file police complaint
BJP MPs Bansuri Swaraj and Anurag Thakur reached the Parliament Street Police Station to file a complaint against Rahul Gandhi for the alleged assault on Pratap Sarangi. Meanwhile, Medical Superintendent Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital Dr Ajay Shukla said that both the injured MPs suffered head injuries and have been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). On Sarangi's injuries, Dr Shukla said that he was experiencing heavy bleeding.
"Tests will be done. Symptomatic treatment has begun. Since both of them suffered head injuries, they were admitted to the ICU. Pratap Sarangi was experiencing heavy bleeding and he had suffered a deep cut. So, he had to be stitched up. His evaluation is in progress," he said. On Mukesh Rajput, he said that the MP had fallen unconscious earlier.
"Mukesh Rajput had fallen unconscious. Right now, he is conscious but he is dizzy and anxious. His BP had shot up," he added. Sarangi claimed that he was standing on stairs when another member of Parliament fell on him, leading to an injury on his head. "Rahul Gandhi pushed a member of Parliament who fell on me after which I fell down...I was standing near the stairs when Rahul Gandhi came and pushed an MP who then fell on me..." Singh told reporters.
Massive row
A massive political row has erupted over Amit Shah's remarks on BR Ambedkar during his speech in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. Congress has accused Shah of being anti-Ambedkar and has demanded his resignation. The Congress has issued notices to discuss the issue in both houses of the Parliament.
Earlier, Rajya Sabha LoP and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday criticised Shah's remark on Babasaheb Ambedkar demanding an apology from Shah for his remarks during the Constitution debate in the Rajya Sabha. Meanwhile, accusing the Congress of being "anti-BR Ambedkar, anti-reservation and anti-Constitution," Shah on Wednesday said the opposition party has been presenting facts about his speech in Rajya Sabha in a distorted way. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also defended Amit Shah's remarks and said that the union minister exposed the Congress' "dark history of insulting" Baba Saheb Ambedkar after "which they were clearly stung and stunned" by the facts he presented.
LIVE FEED
Both Houses Adjourned As Scuffle Breaks Out Between INDIA and NDA MPs
Parliament Winter Session LIVE: Rajya Sabha Resumes Proceedings
Rajya Sabha proceedings resumed at 2 pm.
Parliament Winter Session LIVE: Lok Sabha Adjourned For The Day
Lok Sabha proceedings adjourned for the day amid continuous uproar by treasury, opposition benches over Ambedkar issue
Parliament Winter Session LIVE: BJP MPs Reach Parliament Street Police Station
BJP legal team along with party MPs Anurag Thakur, Bansuri Swaraj, and others reach Parliament Street police station to file a complaint against Congress MP and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi.
Parliament Winter Session LIVE: 'We Are Evaluating Their Condition': RML Hospital On Injured MPs Health Condition
RML Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Ajay Shukla says, "We are evaluating their condition and trying to stabilise them. Both of them are in the ICU. Mukesh Rajput fell unconscious after sustaining a head injury, he is experiencing anxiety and dizziness. The BP of both of them had shot up. Sarangi ji was also experiencing a lot of bleeding...He had suffered a deep cut on his forehead. So, he had to be stitched up...Their MRI has not been done yet...Once they are a little stable, their further evaluation will be done...8-10 people (team of doctors) are in the ICU..."
Parliament Winter Session LIVE: 'LoP Rahul Gandhi Was Physically Manhandled,' Congress MPs Write To LS Speaker
Congress MPs KC Venugopal, K Suresh and Manickam Tagore write to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. "... As we attempted to enter the Parliament through Makar Dwar, the protesting MPs were physically obstructed from entering...LoP Rahul Gandhi was physically manhandled by three MPs from the ruling party..."
Parliament Winter Session LIVE: Reflects Mindset Of Manuvadi Bharatiya Janata Party: Gaurav Gogoi
"This behaviour reflects the mindset of the Manuvadi Bharatiya Janata Party. I condemn this arrogance. At the same time, I also request a review of the security protocols on the Makar Dwar stairs today. INDIA Party MPs have often protested on the stairs but have never shown hostility towards other parties. We believe in non-violent agitation," wrote Gaurav Gogoi on X.
Parliament Winter Session LIVE:Union Ministers Meet Injured MPs
Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi and Shivraj Singh Chouhan met BJP MPs Pratap Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput at Delhi's Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. Pratap Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput allegedly sustained injuries during commotion between the INDIA bloc and NDA leaders inside Parliament premises earlier today.
Parliament Winter Session LIVE: PM Modi Speaks To Injured MPs
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Pratap Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput and inquired about their health after the injuries in Parliament today.
Parliament Winter Session LIVE: Kharge Writes To Speaker On The Scuffle
Congress MPs met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and submitted a complaint against the alleged unruly conduct of BJP MPs against Rahul Gandhi and stopping him form entering Parliament House.
In a letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge claimed he was pushed by BJP MPs, lost his balance and was forced to sit on the ground, injuring his knees that have already undergone surgery.
He sought an inquiry into the incident, claiming it was not just an attack on him personally, but on the leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha and Congress president.
Parliament Winter Session LIVE: 'Rahul Gandhi's Physical Attack Against MPs Condemnable': Rijiju
After the chaos outside parliament led to injuries to two BJP MPs and with both BJP and opposition parties accusing each other of instigation chaos, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of committing "physical assault" against two BJP MPs in the Parliament premises. While condemning the actions of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, he said that the show of strength by him and his MPs was "very wrong."
"Makar Dwar is the main entry gate of the Members of Parliament to both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The Congress and their other MPs kept on standing in that particular location and they have been showing placards and sloganeering for the entire session. Today for the first time the NDA MPs went there to protest against the insult of Ambedkar by the Congress party since 1951...For the first time, the NDA MPs went there to protest. While the NDA MPs were protesting at the Makar Dwar, the main gate, the Congress MPs led by Rahul Gandhi came and assaulted, pushed two MPs of the BJP and pushed around other MPs also. Two of the BJP MPs Pratap Singh Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput have sustained grievous injury. I want to tell Rahul Gandhi if you resort to this kind of physical violence, if other MPs also start resorting to physical violence, what will happen? " Rijiju said.
"We believe in democracy. Who has given authorisation to Rahul Gandhi to use his physical power against other MPs? It doesn't mean that the other MPs are weak. It's only because we believe in non-violence and we believe in democracy. Rahul Gandhi's physical attack against the MPs is condemnable. It is a gross misuse of his anger, his frustration and the way Rahul Gandhi has treated the Parliament, shows that Rahul Gandhi doesn't believe in democracy. I want to tell Rahul Gandhi we will see what appropriate action we can take. But he must tender an apology to the nation that he has used his physical strength against other MPs. We are not retaliating physically only because we believe in democracy. We are not using our physical strength against other MPs because that is not what we believe in. We believe in nonviolence. Rahul Gandhi must understand and tender his apology to the nation and to the MPs to whom he has caused the gravest injury. Appropriate action will be taken. First, we will see the level of injury because there was a report that the injury was quite serious and there was some oozing of blood. The medical treatment is now undergoing. We'll see the condition now," Rijiju added.
Parliament Winter Session LIVE: BJP MP Injured During NDA-INDIA Face-Off In Parl Premise; Accuses Rahul Of Pushing, LoP Refutes
Ruling NDA and the opposition INDIA bloc MPs took out separate protest marches over the Ambedkar issue on Thursday and came face to face at the Makar Dwar of the Parliament House, leading to jostling in which BJP MP Pratap Sarangi was injured. He was taken to hospital with an injury on his forehead. BJP MPs alleged that Sarangi was pushed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi refuted the claim alleging that BJP MPs were pushing him and stopping him and other opposition MPs from entering Parliament. "It is our right to enter Parliament," he added. Sarangi was later taken to hospital. Nishikant Dubey of the BJP alleged that Rahul Gandhi pushed an aged parliamentarian leading to his fall and subsequent injury. Read More.
BJP MP Injured During NDA-INDIA Face-Off In Parl Premise; Accuses Rahul Of Pushing, LoP Refutes (ANI)
Parliament Winter Session LIVE: Kharge Moves Privilege Motion Against Amit Shah
Congress president and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday submitted a privilege notice against Home Minister Amit Shah for his remarks against B R Ambedkar.
In his notice submitted to the RS Chairman, Kharge alleged that the remarks made by Shah were an insult to the architect of the Constitution and amounted to breach of privilege and contempt of the House.
"I hereby give a notice of a question of privilege against Shri Amit Shah, Minister of Home Affairs under Rule 188 of Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha)," Kharge said in his notice.
He said on December 17, Shah during his reply in the Rajya Sabha on the discussion on 'Glorious journey of 75 years of the Constitution of India', had referred to Ambedkar which was "insulting and defamatory".
"...it is well established that any misconduct in the presence of the House or casting reflections and making defamatory statements constitute a breach of privilege and contempt of the House," he noted.
Kharge also claimed that the wording as well as the tone and tenor of the remarks made by the Home minister "are clearly satirical and made in a very bad taste".
"To use the name of Dr B R Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Constitution of India, is a clear-cut insult to Dr Ambedkar. The remarks which have been made on the floor of the House are outright derogatory in nature and affront to Dr Ambedkar," he claimed in his notice.
Parliament Winter Session LIVE: BJP MPs Were Pushing Me, Stopping Me From Going Inside Parliament: Rahul
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday alleged that BJP MPs were pushing him and stopping him and other opposition MPs from entering Parliament. His remarks came after some BJP MPs claimed that Gandhi pushed an MP, resulting in their leader Pratap Sarangi getting injured.
Sarangi was taken to hospital after getting injured in the melee when the protesting INDIA bloc and the BJP MPs came face to face in front of Makar Dwar in Parliament. "I was trying to enter Parliament and the BJP MPs were stopping me, pushing me and threatening me," Gandhi told reporters in Parliament premises.
Asked if Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi had also been pushed, Rahul Gandhi said, "It has happened but we don't get bothered with this pushing around." Read More.
Parliament Winter Session LIVE: Rajya Sabha Adjourned Till 2 PM
Rajya Sabha proceedings adjourned till 2 PM as opposition members insist on discussion on Amit Shah's remarks on Ambedkar
Parliament Winter Session LIVE: Lok Sabha Adjourned Till 2 PM
Lok Sabha adjourned till 2 pm today after the House paid obituary to former MP E.V.K.S. Elangovan amid protests by the Opposition seeking an apology from Amit Shah for his remarks on Ambedkar.
Parliament Winter Session LIVE: BJP MP Sarangi Injured During Protests, Says Rahul Pushed Another MP
BJP MP Pratap Chandra Sarangi said, "Rahul Gandhi pushed an MP who fell on me after which I fell down...I was standing near the stairs when Rahul Gandhi came and pushed an MP who then fell on me..."
Parliament Winter Session LIVE: Proccedings Begin In LS, RS
The proceedings of both houses of the Parliament began at 11 am.
Parliament Winter Session LIVE: Congress Move Notices In RS,LS
Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala gave Suspension of Business Notice in Rajya Sabha under Rule 267 to discuss Union Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks in Rajya Sabha regarding Dr BR Ambedkar. Congress MP Manickam Tagore submitted an Adjournment Motion notice in the Lok Sabha, demanding an apology and resignation from Union Home Minister Amit Shah over remarks made during his Constitution Day speech in the Rajya Sabha. Tagore alleged Shah's comments insulted Dr. BR Ambedkar, causing offense to the Dalit community and undermining constitutional values.
Parliament Winter Session LIVE: INDIA Bloc Holds Protest March
INDIA Bloc MPs led by Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi held a protest on Thursday in the Parliament premises and demanded the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah over his remarks on Babasaheb Ambedkar.
Many MPs including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Sanjay Raut, Mahua Majhi, and Ram Gopal Yadav were seen wearing blue clothes as a mark of protest against the Home Minister's remarks.
The INDIA Bloc MPs will march to Makar Dwar, demanding an apology and the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah over his remarks. This came after Amit Shah lashed out at the Congress party and said that it had become a 'fashion' for the party to take Ambedkar's name. "If they had taken the name of God so many times instead of Ambedkar then they would have got heaven for seven lives," Shah said. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said that if there was a slip of the tongue, then Amit Shah should apologize.
"BJP has no work left. BJP is a party which is sitting idle. Amit Shah is the Home Minister of the country. If he has made a mistake, if there was a slip of the tongue, he should apologise. There is no crime in apologising over Dr Ambedkar, he is a personality that has a God-like status...The man who provided dignity to the backward of the country is like God, even greater than him. You have used wrong words for him...So, apologise," he said. Earlier today, lashing out at the BJP over Amit Shah's remarks on Babasaheb Ambedkar, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said on Thursday that they do not have basic respect for the person who is regarded as the Constitution maker.
Parliament Winter Session LIVE: BJP MPs Protest In Parliament
BJP MPs protested in Parliament, alleging insult of Babasaheb Ambedkar by the Congress party.
Parliament Winter Session LIVE: 'This Is A Mindset That Vandalises The Statue Of Babasaheb': Priyanka Gandhi
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, "The manner in which he (HM Amit Shah) has insulted Babasaheb...This is a mindset that vandalises the statue of Babasaheb. Who will trust them? They say that they do not want to end reservation, that they do not want to change the Constitution. They do not have the basic respect, he (Babasaheb Ambedkar) is the Constitution maker. You are saying this about him."
"We Will Protest In Parliament": TMC MP Saugata Roy On Amit Shah's Ambedkar Remarks
TMC MP Saugata Roy on Wednesday said the opposition will continue their protest in Parliament on Thursday against the Union Minister Amit Shah's remarks on Babasaheb Ambedkar.
"We will protest in Parliament tomorrow. We will continue the protest until Home Minister Amit Shah apologizes for his remarks on Dr BR Ambedkar...," he told reporters in New Delhi.
Parliament Winter Session LIVE: BJP MPs To Protest In Parliament
BJP MPs are planning to protest in Parliament at 10 am against Congress and the Opposition, who are seeking Union Home Minister Amit Shah's resignation over his controversial remarks about Dr. BR Ambedkar
Last Updated : 22 minutes ago