The Congress party has condemned the First Information Report (FIR) filed against Rahul Gandhi in connection with a recent scuffle in Parliament, terming it “a diversionary tactic” in response to his strong protest against Union Home Minister's comments , Amit Shah, on BR Ambedkar. “Rahul ji is already facing 26 FIRs due to the BJP's political revenge,” the Congress complained.
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'Badge of Honour' for defending Ambedkar's legacy
KC Venugopal further claimed that the case against Rahul Gandhi for defending Babasaheb's legacy is a “badge of honour”.
He added, “A case against him for defending Babasaheb's legacy is a badge of honor. This latest FIR will not deter him and the Congress from rising against the RSS-BJP caste system.”
Questions about the actions of the police in Delhi
In his remarks, Venugopal also questioned why the Delhi Police acted on the BJP's complaint while ignoring the complaints of women MPs of the Congress. He asked, “At the same time, why has the Delhi Police not acted on the FIRs filed by women MPs of INC against the BJP leaders who physically assaulted them?”
Details of the FIR against Rahul Gandhi
The FIR was registered by the Delhi Police on Thursday following an incident in Parliament in which two BJP MPs were injured. The BJP accused Rahul Gandhi of “physical assault and sedition” during the altercation and demanded his indictment on serious charges including attempt to murder. The complaint was filed at the Parliament Street police station by BJP MP Hemang Joshi, accompanied by colleagues Anurag Thakur and Bansuri Swaraj.
Ambedkar Row: Charge filed against Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi has been charged under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Section 117 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt), 125 (endangering the life or personal safety of others), 131 (use of criminal force) , 351 (criminal intimidation) and 3(5) (common intention). In response, the Congress party also filed a complaint alleging that the BJP leaders had misbehaved with their chief Mallikarjun Kharge and called for an FIR against them for 'assault, grievous hurt and battery'.
Ambedkar Row: Scuffle details in Parliament
The scuffle broke out in Parliament when both BJP and Congress members accused each other of assault. Two BJP MPs sustained injuries during this clash, while a woman MP claimed harassment from Rahul Gandhi. The Congress Party refuted these allegations, stating that BJP lawmakers had obstructed Gandhi's path and pushed Mallikarjun Kharge, resulting in his injury.
The incident took place near Makar Dwar, an entrance reserved for lawmakers, during simultaneous protests by members of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) over Amit Shah's comments on BR Ambedkar.
Amit Shah says about BR Ambedkar
Bharatiya Janata Party veteran Amit Shah said: “Abhi ek fashion ho gaya hai – Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar. Itna name agar bhagwan ka lete to saat janmon tak swarg mil jata (It has become a fashion to say Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar'. If they took the name of God so many times, they would have been given a place in heaven).”
Amit Shah's tone and tenor was one of aggression. But while this register is a bull's-eye in campaign speeches, Amit Shah, in an attempt to highlight the perceived neglect of social justice by the Congress, while paying lip service to Ambedkar, took the rhetoric a little too far .
At that time, Amit Shah seemed little aware in the Rajya Sabha that his statement would create such an uproar over the way he himself ended up belittling the anti-caste icon.
