Parliament Winter Session Live: BJP vs Congress outside Parliament.
New Delhi:
Parliament Winter Session Live Updates: High-voltage drama was witnessed in Parliament on Thursday after members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Congress accused each other of resorting to violence during protests over the alleged insult to BR Ambedkar by Union home minister Amit Shah earlier this week.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju claimed two BJP lawmakers – Pratap Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput – were “seriously injured” by Rahul Gandhi – a charge the Congress MP rejected. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge claimed he was “pushed by BJP MPs… (and) forced to sit down on the ground”. He said he suffered an injury on his knees, which was recently operated on.
Meanwhile, proceedings in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were adjourned for the day amid continuous protests by opposition benches over Mr Shah’s remarks on BR Ambedkar.
Here are Live Updates of the Parliament Winter Session:
Alleging that he was injured by BJP lawmakers, Mr Kharge said: “BJP MPs blocked us from entering Parliament; they pushed me, I lost my balance and sat down.”
“The BJP wants to divert attention from Mr Shah’s remarks on Ambedkar, that’s why they are raising other issues,” Mr Kharge said, referring to the chaos in Parliament earlier in the day.
Speaking to reporters, Mr Kharge said: “I condemn Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks on BR Ambedkar. We had demanded that Amit Shah be sacked; we knew it’ll not be done and that’s why we carried out protests.”
Three NDA MPs, including Anurag Thakur and Bansuri Swaraj, have filed a police complaint against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of being involved in “physical assault and incitement” during a scuffle at Parliament, an officer said. Thakur and Swaraj, accompanied by a TDP MP, gave the met the officers at the Parliament Street Police Station and gave a written complaint. “We have filed a complaint against Mr Rahul Gandhi for physical assault and incitement,” Thakur told media, outside the police station.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and party MP Rahul Gandhi is currently addressing the media on Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks on BR Ambedkar.
LIVE: Special Press Briefing by Congress President Shri @kharge and Shri @RahulGandhi at AICC HQ. https://t.co/9Y0Nw0rm5J
– Congress (@INCIndia) December 19, 2024
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has said that BJP lawmaker Pratap Sarangi got injured because of the “irresponsible and objectionable” behaviour of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Parliament. He said “such actions” of Gandhi were not only “unacceptable” but also an insult to the “sacred house of democracy”. “Due to irresponsible and objectionable behaviour of Rahul Gandhi in Parliament, our senior party leader and Lok Sabha MP from Balasore Shri @pcsarangi ji got injured. Such actions of Rahul Gandhi are not only unacceptable but it is also an insult to the sacred house of democracy,” he said in a post on X.
संसद में राहुल गांधी के गैरजिम्मेदार और आपत्तिजनक व्यवहार के कारण हमारे पार्टी के वरिष्ठ नेता और बालासोर से लोकसभा सांसद श्री @pcsarangi जी घायल हो गए। राहुल गांधी की इस तरह की हरकतें न केवल अस्वीकार्य हैं, बल्कि यह लोकतंत्र के पवित्र सदन का भी अपमान है।
मैं श्री @pcsarangi जी… pic.twitter.com/frgIfo8ABQ
– Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) December 19, 2024
The Congress has filed a complaint at Parliament Street Police Station, alleging BJP leaders misbehaved with its chief Mallikarjun Kharge, an officer said. The delegation of Congress MPs, including Digvijaya Singh, Mukul Wasnik, Rajiv Shukla and Pramod Tiwari, filed the complaint visiting the station in person, the officer said. A delegation of BJP leaders was still inside New Delhi DCP Devesh Kumar Mahla’s office there, when the Congress leaders came with their complaint and were asked to wait inside the ACP’s room.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday dismissed the BJP claims that Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi pushed two ruling party members in Parliament premises, saying it was not in his nature to be nasty or rude. “I know Rahul, he would not push anyone much less a Member of Parliament. It’s simply not in his nature to be rude or nasty to anyone,” Abdullah posted on his X handle.
I know Rahul, he would not push anyone much less a member of parliament. It’s simply not in his nature to be rude or nasty to anyone. https://t.co/t0zCaQRvHT
– Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) December 19, 2024
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, alleging his “arrogance, sense of entitlement and feudal behaviour” has caused grievous injuries to elected MPs and put their life in danger.
“Will @RahulGandhi ever grow up? The Parliament is not his personal fiefdom. His arrogance, sense of entitlement and feudal behaviour today has caused grievous injuries to elected MPs and has put life in danger. Strongly disapprove his behaviour and tantrums. No amount of condemnation is enough for his juvenile act. The least he owes is an apology,” Pradhan wrote on X.
Will @RahulGandhi ever grow up?
The Parliament is not his personal fiefdom. His arrogance, sense of entitlement and feudal behaviour today has caused grievous injuries to elected MPs and has put life in danger.
Strongly disapprove his behaviour and tantrums. No amount of… https://t.co/vc0TGWF8AA
– Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) December 19, 2024
Leader of Rajya Sabha, J P Nadda, has condemned Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s alleged misconduct towards members of the ruling BJP.
Tit For Tat: Congress Women MPs Allege They Were Pushed By BJP Leaders
After BJP MP S Phangnon Konyak alleged that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi misbehaved with her, Women MPs of the Congress have charged against BJP. Women MPs of the Congress allege they were pushed by BJP leaders while entering Parliament
Parliament Winter Session Update: No Trust Move Against VP Rejected
Opposition’s no-confidence motion against Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has been rejected. Deputy Chairman Harivansh gave the ruling as the 14-day notice was not given. Also, Mr Dhankar’s name was mispelt.
Congress women MPs to go to Sandad marg police station at 3pm today.
S. Phangnon Konyak, Member of Parliament from Nagaland has written to Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar, alleging Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of misbehaving.
In her letter, she wrote, “He (Rahul Gandhi) 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 stepped aside with heavy heart and denouncing my democratic rights but felt that no Member of Parliament should behave this way.”
“Didn’t Push Anyone,” Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Defends Brother Rahul Gandhi
Defending her brother and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that Mr Gandhi “didn’t push anyone”. She claimed that Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge fell down during the protest and got injured.
Parliament Winter Session Update: “Parliament Not A Wrestling Arena,” Says Union Minister Kiren Rijiju
For the few minutes that Rajya Sabha resumed at 2pm, BJP MPs raised the issue of physical assault in the Parliament. Speaking in Rajya Sabha, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju says, “Rahul Gandhi today pushed two BJP MPs who are now hospitalised. The entire Congress should apologise to the Parliament and the country for Rahul Gandhi’s behaviour. Parliament is not a wrestling arena…”
Parliament Winter Session Update: Both Houses Adjourned
Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, both the Houses of the Parliament have been adjourned till tomorrow 11 am.
Congress MPs KC Venugopal, K Suresh and Manickam Tagore have written to Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla expressing “deep anguish” over physical assault in the Parliament today. Allegedly, members of the INDIA alliance were physically obstructed from entering the Parliament through Makar Dwar.
“Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition was physically manhandled by three MPs from the ruling party. This is a clear violation of the privileges extended to the Leader of Opposition and infringes on the rights accorded to him in his official capacity as an MP.”
Congress has called it a “blatant assault on the personal dignity” of Rahul Gandhi.
PM Modi Speaks To Injured BJP MPs
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly called Pratap Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput and inquired about their health after the injuries in the Parliament today.
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge has alleged he was physically pushed by BJP MPs during a protest march by the INDIA bloc from the statue of Dr. Ambedkar at Prerna Sthal to Makar Dwar. The Opposition has been protesting against the insulting remarks on Dr Ambedkar made by the Union Home Minister Amit Shah in his speech in the Rajya Sabha.
“When I reached Makar Dwar along with the INDIA parties MPs, I was physically pushed by BJP MPs. Thereafter, I lost my balance and was forced to sit down on the ground in front of Makar Dwar. This inflicted injury on my knees which have already undergone surgery. Subsequently, Congress MPs brought a chair and I was made to sit on it. With great difficulty and with the support of my colleagues, I limped to the House at 11 AM,” the letter reads.
Congress and other MPs kept on standing at the Makar Dwar, the main entry gate to Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, said Union Minister Kiren Rijiju. “While the NDA MPs were protesting at the Makar Dwar, the main gate, the Congress MPs led by Rahul Gandhi came and assaulted, pushed two MPs of the BJP and pushed around other MPs also. Two of the BJP MPs Pratap Singh Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput have sustained grievous injury,” he added.
Mr Rijiju said that other MPs are not weak. They just believe in non-violence and democracy.
“Rahul Gandhi must understand and tender his apology to the nation and to the MPs to whom he has caused the gravest injury. Appropriate action will be taken. First, we will see the level of injury because there was a report that the injury was quite serious and there was some oozing of blood. The medical treatment is now undergoing,” he said.
#WATCH | Union Minister Kiren Rijiju says, “Makar Dwar is the main entry gate of the Members of Parliament to both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The Congress and their other MPs kept on standing in that particular location and they have been showing placards and sloganeering for the… pic.twitter.com/gwvFmGGm2M
– ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2024
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor suggested we need to “move on to the problems of today and tomorrow”. He urged BJP to produce the correct video, if they think the Congress is circulating a shorter clip.”Unfortunately, Ambedkar’s legacy and the Constitution itself have become a battleground politically… This is becoming a bit absurd on both sides. We need to move on to the problems of today and tomorrow… At the moment, the message is clear and the opposition is united on this- If indeed the video is not correct they (BJP) should produce the correct video (of Union HM Amit Shah’s speech in Rajya Sabha),” he said.
#WATCH | Delhi | Congress MP Shashi Tharoor says “You can see the video on the Parliament television. Unfortunately, Ambedkar’s legacy and the Constitution itself have become a battleground politically… This is becoming a bit absurd on both sides. We need to move on to the… pic.twitter.com/1uV50HoSnx
– ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2024
Dramatic scenes played out in Parliament today as both the BJP and the Opposition took out protest marches amid the massive row over Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks on Dalit icon BR Ambedkar. While the Congress MPs demanded the Home Minister’s resignation, BJP leaders said the Congress had humiliated BR Ambedkar and must apologise.
The Gandhi siblings dressed in blue, symbolising Dalit resistance, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Opposition MPs marched with photographs of BR Ambedkar. Slogans of ‘Jai Bheem’ and ‘Amit Shah, apologise’ were raised.
The BJP, on the other hand, took out a separate march holding pictures of Ambedkar. At one point, both marches reached the Makar Dwar of Parliament and the MPs from the two sides raised slogans to outshout each other.
Parliament Winter Session Update: Mallikarjun Kharge Moves Privilege Motion Against Home Minister Amit Shah
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge moves privilege motion against Home Minister Amit Shah for making insulting remarks against BR Ambedkar in Rajya Sabha, during Constitution debate.
Rahul Gandhi Says “Way Blocked” After BJP MP Injured In Parliament ShowdownRahul Gandhi has responded strongly to claims by a BJP MP – Pratap Chandra Sarangi – that he was inadvertently injured by the Congress MP during a scuffle outside Parliament’s Makar Dawar (gate) Thursday morning. Mr Gandhi told reporters it was, in fact, a group of BJP MPs who shoved him away and issued threats, and that they had also threatened Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.
Arvind Kejriwal sought to know the views of the Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu over the remarks of Amit Shah.
In a post on X in Hindi, Mr Kejriwal said, ” The people of the country want to ask Honorable Nitish Ji and Chandrababu Naidu Ji – “Do you support the insult of Baba Saheb done by Amit Shah Ji?”
Parliament Winter Session Update
Speaking on protests on Ambedkar row in the Rajya Sabha, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar said, “We cannot allow the country to plunge into anarchy”.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi claims that BJP MPs are tried to stop him, push him and threaten him, when he tried entering the Parliament. “It is our right to enter the Parliament.”
BJP MP Pratap Sarangi has alleged that Rahul Gandhi pushed an MP who fell on him following which Mr Sarangi fell.
Opposition MPs climb the walls of Makar Dwar at the Parliament. They are protesting, demanding an apology and resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah over his remarks on BR in Rajya Sabha during the Constitution debate.
#WATCH | Delhi: MPs of INDIA Alliance climb the walls of Makar Dwar at the Parliament and protest with placards demanding an apology and resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah over his remarks on Babasaheb Ambedkar in Rajya Sabha. pic.twitter.com/Bd9UAEkMKX
– ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2024
BJP MP Pratap Sarangi injured during protest, taken to hospital. While sitting on a wheelchair, he alleged that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi pushed an MP who fell on him following which Mr Sarangi fell.
#WATCH | Delhi | BJP MP Pratap Chandra Sarangi says, “Rahul Gandhi pushed an MP who fell on me after which I fell down…I was standing near the stairs when Rahul Gandhi came and pushed an MP who then fell on me…” pic.twitter.com/xhn2XOvYt4
– ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2024
#WATCH | Delhi | INDIA bloc holds protest march at Babasaheb Ambedkar statue in the Parliament complex
They will march to Makar Dwar, demanding an apology and resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah over his remarks on Babasaheb Ambedkar in Rajya Sabha. pic.twitter.com/4cmM90DWpY
– ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2024
BJP MPs protest in Parliament, alleging insult of BR Ambedkar by Congress party.
#WATCH | Delhi: BJP MPs protest in Parliament, alleging insult of Babasaheb Ambedkar by Congress party. pic.twitter.com/HRF2UFfucd
– ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2024
Parliament Winter Session Update
INDIA bloc to protest march to Makar Dwar, demanding apology and resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah over his remarks on BR Ambedkar in Rajya Sabha.
In response to BJP editing BR Ambedkar’s photo and replacing it with Soros’ in a social media post, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi said it is an “insult to Baba Saheb.”
“This is the same mentality which damages Baba Saheb’s statues installed at various places. This is an insult to Baba Saheb. This is an insult to the Constitution maker,” she said while speaking to the media.
Earlier in the day, BJP shared a photo on its official X handle which shows INDIA Bloc MPs holding the photo of George Soros during their protest in the Parliament.
Joining the Ambedkar row, Kamal Haasan said modern India is built on the building blocks of Ambedkar’s ideas. “While Gandhiji freed India from foreign oppression, Dr. Ambedkar liberated India from its own ancient shackles of social injustice,” he wrote.
Ambedkar’s ideas are the building block on which modern India is built. While Gandhiji freed India from foreign oppression, Dr. Ambedkar liberated India from its own ancient shackles of social injustice.
Every Indian who proudly believes and fights for Babasaheb’s vision of…
– Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) December 19, 2024
Congress MP KC Venugopal reacted to a photo shared by the BJP on its official handle on X which shows INDIA Bloc MPs holding the photo of George Soros during their protest in the Parliament.
The Opposition MPs including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and Sanjay Singh on Wednesday held a protest by carrying Dr BR Ambedkar’s photo in their hands.
Congress’ Venugopal posted on X, “The BJP is brazen in its insult and ridicule of Dr Ambedkar. Instead of submitting ensuring the Home Minister is removed from his post for the immense hurt caused to the crores of Babasaheb’s followers by Amit Shah’s statements, they are doubling down on the ridicule. Is standing up for Dr. Ambedkar against the insult to him a matter of joke for the BJP? They are bringing in their rotten falsehoods even on a sensitive matter like Dr Ambedkar’s legacy, because they do not respect him and want to diminish his stature for their narrow political goals.”
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took it to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), and slammed Congress for failing to empower “backward communities”.
“BJP has been actively working towards Dr BR Ambedkar’s vision of equality. Through steps like expanding reservations and creating opportunities in education and government jobs, BJP is turning Baba Saheb’s vision into real policies, shaping lives. Congress, on the other hand, continues to talk but does nothing,” he wrote.
While Congress has consistently failed to empower backward communities, BJP has been actively working towards Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s vision of equality. Through steps like expanding reservations and creating opportunities in education and government jobs, BJP is turning Baba Saheb’s… https://t.co/V9ur3GCs4b
– Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) December 18, 2024
Congress MP K Suresh gives Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha to discuss Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks in Rajya Sabha regarding Dr BR Ambedkar. pic.twitter.com/GDzGKhouAG
– ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2024
Congress MP Manickam Tagore has given an Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha to discuss Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks regarding Dr BR Ambedkar which allegedly insulted the architect of Indian Constitution.
- Immediate apology
- Resignation
