Delhi Police on Thursday registered an FIR against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi following a complaint by the BJP accusing him of “physical assault and incitement” during a scuffle in Parliament premises. The incident, which occurred at the entrance steps of Parliament, has further intensified tensions between the ruling NDA and the opposition.
The FIR, filed under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), includes charges such as voluntary causing hurt (Section 115), grievous hurt (Section 117), endangering life or personal safety (Section 125), criminal force (Section 131), criminal intimidation (Section 351) and common intention (Section 3[5]). While most charges are bailable, Section 117 carries severe implications, with punishment ranging from seven years to life imprisonment, depending on the severity of injuries caused.
A senior police officer stated that Gandhi may soon be called for questioning in connection with the case. The police have also requested CCTV footage from the Lok Sabha Secretariat to investigate the alleged incident.
BJP’s allegations against Rahul Gandhi
The altercation reportedly left BJP MPs Pratap Chandra Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput injured. BJP MP Hemang Joshi, along with party colleagues Anurag Thakur and Bansuri Swaraj, lodged the complaint at the Parliament Street Police Station.
In his two-page complaint, Joshi alleged that Gandhi disrupted a peaceful NDA demonstration at the Makar Dwar entrance around 10:40 am. According to Joshi, Gandhi ignored security instructions, forcibly barged into the protest and instigated other opposition members to act aggressively.
He accused Gandhi and other opposition MPs of using physical force to push Rajput and Sarangi, resulting in a “severe injury” to Rajput’s head and Sarangi’s forehead. Joshi stated that first aid was administered by Dr. Byreddy Sabari, a BJP MP and qualified doctor.
Congress’ counterclaims
The Congress has vehemently denied the BJP’s allegations, accusing NDA MPs of targeting its leaders. The party claimed that BJP MPs pushed Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and “physically manhandled” Rahul Gandhi.
A Congress delegation, including senior leaders Digvijaya Singh, Mukul Wasnik, Rajiv Shukla, and Pramod Tiwari, visited the police station to file a counter-complaint against BJP MPs.
Union Minister Anurag Thakur accused Gandhi of inappropriate behavior toward a female BJP MP from Nagaland, further intensifying the controversy. Meanwhile, Congress leaders have framed the incident as an attempt by the BJP to divert attention from pressing national issues.
The scuffle marks a sharp escalation in hostilities between the opposition and the ruling coalition, raising concerns over parliamentary decorum.