The row over Home Minister Amit Shah’s speech on Dr BR Ambedkar continued after New Delhi police filed an FIR on December 20 against Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi, based on a complaint by BJP MP Hemang Joshi that Rahul Gandhi manhandled two BJP MPs. Hemang claimed in the complaint that Rahul Gandhi ignored instructions by security personnel, and incited other MPs to violence and “endangered the safety” of BJP MPs.
He filed his complaint under BNS sections 109 (attempt to murder), 115 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt), 117 (voluntary causing grievous hurt), 125 (act of endangering life or personal safety of others), 131 (use of criminal force), 351 (criminal intimidation) and 3(5) (common intention).
The Delhi Police have only removed section 109, while maintaining all other BNS sections from the complaint in the FIR.
All India Congress Committee (AICC) deputy general secretary KC Venugopal and Congress Whip Manickam Tagore have both issued statements slamming the BJP and have called the FIR an attempt to distract the public. “The FIR is nothing but a diversionary tactic in response to his staunch protest against the Home Minister,” Venugopal said, adding, “A case against him for defending Babasaheb’s legacy is a badge of honour. And in any case, he is already facing 26 FIRs due to the BJP’s political vendetta and this latest FIR will not stop him or the Congress from standing up against the casteist RSS-BJP regime.”
Venugopal also questioned the Delhi police on why they are yet to act on the complaints filed by women MPs from the Congress against BJP leaders who allegedly physically assaulted them.
Manickam also defended Rahul Gandhi, similarly describing the FIR as a “diversion tactic” and a “badge of honour”.
Earlier, on December 17, Shah had said that it was the Congress who had historically ignored Ambedkar’s grievances and were the reason for his resignation from Independent India’s first Cabinet. He also added, “There is a fashion now to say ‘Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar.’ Had you [Congress] taken God’s name as many times, you would have gone to heaven by now.”
Shah’s remark drew widespread condemnation from Opposition parties across the country, accusing the Home Minister of ‘insulting’ Ambedkar. The BJP claimed that Shah’s comments had been taken out of context.
On December 19, chaos erupted outside Parliament after BJP and Congress MPs traded accusations of manhandling during protests over Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks on Dr BR Ambedkar. Two BJP MPs–Pratap Sarangi and Mukhesh Rajput– alleged that they had been injured in the scuffle. Meanwhile, both Rahul Gandhi and AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge have accused BJPs of pushing and manhandling them. INDIA Bloc MPs and Kharge have written separate letters to Lok Sabha Om Birla with these allegations but no action has been taken so far. Manickam has also moved an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha and demanded Shah’s resignation.
