Ramesh Bidhuri of the BJP is the MP from the posh Delhi South constituency (File).
New Delhi:
BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri – heavily criticized for hurling Islamophobic fears at BSP MP Kunwar Danish Ali last week – met party boss JP Nadda on Monday morning. The Bharatiya Janata Party leader had been issued a warning after a vulgar outburst in Parliament that was caught on camera and strongly condemned by the opposition, forcing his party to act against its member.
The BJPon Sunday declined to comment on its use of communal smears and would only say Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla – who has received letters calling for action against both Lok Sabha representatives.
A day after he was publicly abused during the special session of Parliament, a tearful Mr Ali told NDTV that he had not been able to sleep and was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. The Bahujan Samaj Party MP also said he is considering quitting Parliament if no action is taken against Ramesh Bidhuri.
Mr Ali has written to urge action against Ramesh Bidhuri.
READ | “Consider leaving Parliament if…”: Danish Ali on BJP MP’s comments
Mr Birla, officials had said, took “serious note” of the foul language and warned the BJP MP of “strict action” if he repeated such behaviour. The Opposition was quick to point out that non-BJP lawmakers had been suspended, or even barred from a full session, for less heinous comments.
On Sunday, Mr Ali – targeted by another BJP MP, Nishikant Dubey, over allegations that he used casteist insults against Prime Minister Narendra Modi – said he feared the comment was aimed at his “physical lynching outside Parliament”. lure, as the ‘verbal lynching’ had taken place. already started.
READ | BJP’s Nishikant Dubey questions Danish Ali’s behavior after BSP MP was abused
“BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s letter (to the Lok Sabha Speaker) is aimed at creating a narrative about my lynching outside Parliament as my verbal lynching has already taken place,” Kunwar Danish Ali said.
READ | ‘Creating a narrative for my lynching’: MP Danish Ali on BJP leader’s letter
Nishikant Dubey had demanded the chairman to investigate the ‘indecent words and behavior of Ali’.
That demand was backed by a third BJP MP – in a move seen by many as an attempt by the party to divert attention from Ramesh Bidhuri’s vile comments and shift the blame to Mr Ali.
BJP MP Ravi Kisan Shukla also wrote a letter to the Speaker on Sunday demanding an inquiry into Danish Ali’s ‘unparliamentary’ actions and language. In his letter, Ravi Shukla blamed Ramesh Bidhuri’s “rather inappropriate” comments on “continued bickering and disruption by (Danish) Ali”.
READ | Another BJP MP urged the Speaker to investigate Danish Ali’s conduct
Mr Ali has received support from all sides of the opposition party; Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was among the first to visit last week and he shared a photo of the two embracing with the caption: “”Nafrat ke bazaar mein, mohabbat ki dukkan (In this marketplace of hate there is a store of love).”
READ | Opposition’s show of support to Danish Ali, abused by BJP MP in Parliament
Ali was shouted at during a discussion on Thursday over the success of India’s historic moon mission Chandrayaan-3.
