According to sources, BJP MP Hemang Joshi’s statement forced the Delhi Police to file a formal charge against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday. Gandhi was charged by the complainant with “physical assault and incitement” during a fight on the grounds of Parliament.
According to sources, the case was filed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita’s Sections 115 (voluntary causing 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 to commit crime).
According to authorities, the Delhi Police’s Crime Branch may take over the investigation of the Rahul Gandhi matter. Following a meeting of senior police officers, the decision is anticipated to be made public. A senior officer said, “The Crime Branch has experience handling such cases.”
Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s comments about Dr. BR Ambedkar in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday sparked a spat between the BJP and Congress. The Congress leaders were incensed by his comments, which prompted demonstrations outside Parliament on Wednesday and Thursday. Tensions increased as BJP MPs responded to protests by the INDIA bloc. There were claims of physical assault during Thursday’s clashes between the Congress and BJP leaders outside Parliament.
In order to lodge a complaint against Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, BJP leaders Hemang Joshi, Anurag Thakur, and Bansuri Swaraj went to the Parliament Street Police Station.
In his complaint, Joshi alleged, “At around 10 am, I along with Mukesh Rajput ji, Pratap Rao Sarangi ji, and other Members of Parliament belonging to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) were peacefully demonstrating.” He claimed that Gandhi arrived around 10:40 am and “forcefully barged toward the peaceful demonstrators” despite security instructions, which he said endangered the safety of the MPs.
Gandhi and other opposition figures were also charged by Joshi with encouraging physical violence that resulted in injuries. “Mukesh Rajput sustained a severe injury to the back of his head, and Sarangi was hurt on his forehead,” Joshi alleged in the complaint.
Speaking to reporters, BJP leader Anurag Thakur requested a “thorough investigation” and action under several BNS provisions, such as 109 (attempt to kill), 115 (voluntary causing pain), and 131 (use of illegal force). Gandhi was also accused by Thakur of mistreating a female Nagaland BJP MP.
The Congress accused BJP MPs of “physically manhandling” Rahul Gandhi and pushed party head Mallikarjun Kharge in a rebuttal, vehemently disputing the accusations.
Digvijaya Singh and Mukul Wasnik were among a group of Congress MPs that complained to the police about the misbehaviour of BJP MPs. Congress lawmakers have urged Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to look into the situation in a letter.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore called the FIR against Rahul Gandhi a “diversionary tactic” and charged that Amit Shah and his supporters were trying to stifle criticism. “Defending Babasaheb Ambedkar’s legacy is a badge of honour, not a crime,” Tagore stated in reference to the matter.
He attacked Delhi Police for allegedly failing to investigate assault charges made by Congress women MPs against BJP leaders. Despite 26 FIRs, which he claimed were politically motivated, Tagore stated that Gandhi and the Congress party would not back down from their opposition to the “RSS-BJP regime.”
