New Delhi, 20 December 2024: Delhi Police registered an FIR against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, following a complaint by the BJP accusing him of physical assault and incitement during a clash on Parliament grounds. The FIR includes charges under Sections 115, 117, 125, 131, 351, and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, according to a senior police official.
“Rahul Gandhi may be called in for questioning,” the officer stated, adding that police have sought CCTV footage from the Lok Sabha Secretariat to aid the investigation. Among the charges, only Section 117 is non-bailable, carrying potential penalties ranging from seven years to life imprisonment, contingent on the severity of injuries caused, a second officer clarified.
Parliamentary Clash Injures Two NDA MPs
The altercation allegedly occurred near the Parliament’s Makar Dwar entrance, where BJP MPs were protesting what they described as opposition insults to B.R. Ambedkar. BJP leaders claimed the scuffle left former Union minister Pratap Chandra Sarangi and MP Mukesh Rajput injured.
BJP MP Hemang Joshi, accompanied by Anurag Thakur and Bansuri Swaraj, formally lodged the complaint against Gandhi at the Parliament Street police station, asserting the Congress leader had “malicious intent” and deliberately disrupted their protest.
BJP’s Complaint
In a two-page complaint, Vadodara MP Hemang Joshi stated, “At approximately 10:40 am, Rahul Gandhi approached the protest site, ignoring security instructions to use the designated path. He forcibly moved towards the demonstrators, instigating members of the INDIA bloc to act aggressively.”
Joshi alleged that Gandhi and others used physical force, resulting in injuries to Rajput and Sarangi. “Mukesh Rajput sustained a severe head injury, and Sarangi suffered a forehead wound. Dr. Byreddy Sabari, an NDA MP and qualified doctor, provided immediate first aid at the scene,” Joshi detailed. He further claimed to have personally witnessed Gandhi’s alleged actions and attempted to de-escalate the situation.
BJP leader Anurag Thakur also accused Gandhi of misconduct, asserting he behaved inappropriately toward a female MP from Nagaland.
Congress Rebuts Allegations
The Congress party dismissed the BJP’s claims, alleging instead that their chief, Mallikarjun Kharge, was pushed, and Gandhi was “physically manhandled” by BJP MPs. A Congress delegation, including senior leaders Digvijaya Singh, Mukul Wasnik, Rajiv Shukla, and Pramod Tiwari, filed a counter-complaint with the police.
As tensions rise, the incident underscores the growing hostility between ruling and opposition factions in Parliament. Investigations into the clash continue, with both parties exchanging sharp allegations.