Kharge accuses BJP MPs of assault, sustains knee injury during protests outside Parliament

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has accused BJP MPs of physically assaulting him on Thursday during protests outside Parliament, leading to a knee injury. The protests were held by both Congress and BJP MPs in response to remarks made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah about Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. In his letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker, Kharge claimed that BJP MPs pushed him to the ground, causing him to lose his balance and suffer an injury to his knee, which had previously undergone surgery.

Kharge detailed the incident in his letter, explaining that he arrived at Makar Dwar with MPs from the INDIA alliance. He stated that as he reached the area, he was physically shoved by BJP MPs, causing him to lose his balance and fall. This fall aggravated his knee injury, which had already been treated with surgery. After the fall, Congress MPs brought a chair for Kharge to sit on, and with their support, he was able to limp to the House around 11 AM. Kharge emphasized that this was not only an attack on him personally but also an assault on his position as Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and as the Congress President.

In his letter, Kharge called for an enquiry into the incident, describing it as a serious violation of parliamentary decorum. He requested the Speaker to investigate the actions of the BJP MPs, stating that the attack was not just a personal assault but an attack on democratic values, parliamentary traditions, and the integrity of the opposition's role. Kharge also noted that the event demonstrated a larger attack on the dignity of his office and the Congress party.

Kharge further accused BJP MPs of carrying placards mounted on thick sticks, claiming that they used these sticks to push and shove Congress MPs, disrupting the peaceful protest of the INDIA alliance. He alleged that the BJP MPs sought to prevent the exposure of their animosity toward Dr. Ambedkar, Parliament, and democratic principles. According to Kharge, the BJP's actions were intended to stop the protest and prevent the alliance from highlighting their opposition to the government's stance on Ambedkar's legacy.

The incident also led to further tensions between the parties. BJP MP Pratap Chandra Sarangi reportedly sustained injuries during the confrontation. The BJP alleged that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi pushed another MP into Sarangi, causing the injury. Rahul Gandhi, however, denied the allegations, asserting that it was BJP MPs who obstructed Kharge and Congress MPs' entry into Parliament. The BJP has indicated plans to file an FIR against Rahul Gandhi over the incident. The altercation has intensified the ongoing political rivalry between the Congress and BJP, further escalating the tensions surrounding the protests and the political discourse in Parliament.