Following anti-Muslim remarks by BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri during a debate in the Parliament on Thursday night, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MP Danish Ali described his remarks as “hate speech” and asserted that he could consider quitting the membership of the House if no step was taken. He also demanded the suspension of the ruling party’s lawmaker from the House.
“This is nothing less than hate speech. This is hate speech on the floor of the House. Hate speeches were being made outside Parliament but now hate speech has been delivered on the floor of the House by a BJP MP,” he told PTI.
Asked what would he do if action was not taken against Bidhuri, Ali said, “I expect that the speaker will take action on this. But if action is not taken, then with a heavy heart, I can consider quitting the membership of this House because people have not sent me to Parliament to listen to hate speeches.”
The BSP MP has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, demanding the matter be referred to the privileges committee.
“I write to you with deep anguish regarding the speech given in Lok Sabha by an MP of the BJP Mr Ramesh Bidhuri during the discussion on ‘Chandrayan success’. During the course of his speech, he directed the most foul, abusive invectives against me which are part of the record of the Lok Sabha,” Ali said in his letter.
The BSP MP listed the objectionable words used by Bidhuri against him in the letter.
The video of Bidhuri’s remarks was widely shared on social media, and BJP Lok Sabha members Harsh Vardhan and Ravi Shankar Prasad were also criticised by several leaders, for “laughing”, when Bidhuri was making the abusive remarks.
Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, TMC’s Aparupa Poddar, DMK’s Kanimozhi and NCP leader Supriya Sule wrote to Birla and demanded that the matter be sent to the privileges committee.
Following the incident, BSP supremo Mayawati said it was “unfortunate” that the BJP has not yet taken “appropriate” action against Bidhuri.
In a post in Hindi on X, she said, “Although the speaker has expunged the objectionable remarks made by BJP MP against BSP MP Danish Ali, warned him and a senior minister has apologised in the House, but it is sad/unfortunate that the party has not yet taken appropriate action against him.”
The remarks were expunged from parliamentary records and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh immediately expressed regret for Bidhuri’s behaviour in the House.