The Speaker’s office stressed that the move is aimed at safeguarding the sanctity of Parliament and ensuring that its proceedings are not disrupted…reports Asian Lite News
In a decisive move aimed at maintaining decorum and ensuring the smooth functioning of Parliament, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Thursday issued strict instructions that no political party, Member of Parliament (MP), or groups of MPs will be allowed to hold any dharna (protest) or demonstration at the gates of Parliament House.
The directive explicitly prohibits such gatherings at any of the building’s gates. The Speaker’s office stressed that the move is aimed at safeguarding the sanctity of Parliament and ensuring that its proceedings are not disrupted. “No member, group of members, or political parties shall hold any dharna or demonstration at any of the gates of Parliament House,” sources said.
Earlier in the day, a controversy erupted after a heated confrontation between opposition and NDA MPs in the Parliament premises, allegedly triggered by an insult to BR Ambedkar. The BJP alleged that two of its MPs, Pratap Chandra Sarangi from Balasore in Odisha and Mukesh Rajput from Farrukhabad in Uttar Pradesh, were injured after being allegedly pushed by Opposition MPs as both sides protested over the B R Ambedkar issue. BJP MP Pratap Chandra Sarangi claimed he was injured when Gandhi pushed a senior BJP member, leading to Sarangi falling.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is said to have called up the two MPs, who were taken to RML Hospital, to enquire about their health. Rajput is said to be admitted in the ICU.
In response to the allegations, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, in a press conference, said, “We were peacefully protesting in a line, but they stopped us at the Makar Dwar gate. To show their muscle power, they brought many male MPs. We had our female MPs with us, and they were also stopped,” Kharge said. He added that BJP MPs forcefully attacked Congress leaders, causing him to lose his balance. “I’m in no condition to push anyone. I couldn’t handle my balance, and I sat down. Now they are alleging we pushed them,” he stated.
Speaking in Rajya Sabha, BJP MP from Nagaland S Phangnon Konyak alleged that Gandhi came in her “close proximity” and shouted at her during the protest outside the Parliament’s Makar Dwar which made her feel “extremely uncomfortable”.
In a letter to the Rajya Sabha chairman, she claimed that Rahul Gandhi along with other party MPs came in front of her despite there being a passage created for them by security personnel.
“He misbehaved with me in a loud voice and his physical proximity to me was so close that I being a lady member felt extremely uncomfortable… I belong to the ST community and I am a lady member. My dignity and self-esteem have been deeply hurt by LoP Shri Rahul Gandhi ji. Therefore, Hon’ble Chairman sir, I seek your protection,” she wrote.
Rahul Gandhi booked
The Delhi police on Thursday registered an FIR against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, hours after the Bharatiya Janata Party filed a complaint, accusing him of physical assault and incitement” during a scuffle in Parliament premises.
A police officer said that the FIR has been 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) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The officer said police are likely to call Gandhi for questioning in connection with the case. The police will request the Lok Sabha Secretariat to provide the CCTV footage of the area where the alleged incident happened.
Another officer said all sections imposed against Gandhi are bailable, except section 117, punishment for which depends on the severity of the injury caused, ranging from seven years to life imprisonment.
After the incident, the BJP filed police complaint against Gandhi, accusing him of “physical assault and incitement” and sought his indictment under sections of attempt to murder and other charges.
Earlier in the day, BJP MP Hemang Joshi, accompanied by party colleagues Anurag Thakur and Bansuri Swaraj, visited the Parliament Street Police Station and filed the complaint.
The Congress strongly rejected the claim, alleging that BJP MPs pushed its chief Mallikarjun Kharge and “physically manhandled” Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. Congress also lodged a complaint in connection the matter.
In his two-page complaint, BJP MP from Vadodara Hemang Joshi said, “At around 10, I along with Mukesh Rajput ji, Pratap Rao Sarangi ji and other large numbers of my fellow Members of Parliament belonging to the National Democratic Alliance, were peacefully demonstrating at the Makar Dwar entrance of Parliament.”
He said they were protesting against the “blatant misinformation being propagated by opposition parties, particularly led by the Indian National Congress.”
“During this peaceful demonstration, Rahul Gandhi, arrived at the scene around 10.40 am to 10.45 am. Despite request from Parliament security to take the designated entry path, Rahul Gandhi with a malicious intent to disrupt the protest and physically harm NDA Members of Parliament ignored the instructions and forcefully barged toward the peaceful demonstrators,” Joshi said in the complaint.
