New Delhi [India], December 19 : The Congress party expressed anguish on Thursday over an incident at the Parliament premises, where Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition, was allegedly physically manhandled by three MPs from the ruling party.
Congress MPs including KC Venugopal, K Suresh and Manickam Tagore wrote a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, saying that the incident had been condemned as a clear violation of the privileges extended to Rahul Gandhi as the Leader of the Opposition.
"We are writing to express our deep anguish regarding an incident that occurred on the premises of Parlament today. Members of the INDIA alliance were peacefully protesting and marching from the Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar statue to Makar Dwar. However, as we attempted to enter the Parlament through Makar Dwar, the protesting MPs were physically obstructed from entering," the letter said.
"We would also like to bring to your notice that 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 the Opposition and infringes on the rights accorded to him in his official capacity as an MP," it added.
The leaders further requested the speaker to treat this matter with utmost seriousness and take appropriate action.
"Their conduct was not only a blatant assault on the personal dignity of Rahul Gandhi but antithetical to the democratic spirit of our parliament. We hope that you will treat this matter with utmost seriousness and take appropriate action," the letter said.
Meanwhile, BJP MP Anurag Thakur on Thursday said that they have filed a complaint with the Delhi Police against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi for assault and incitement.
Speaking to the reporters, the BJP leader said that they have given a complaint under Sections 109, 115, 117, 125, 131 and 351. Section 109 is an attempt to murder, Section 117 is voluntary causing grievous hurt.
"We have filed a complaint with Delhi Police against Rahul Gandhi for assault and incitement. We have mentioned in detail the incident that happened today outside Makar Dwar, where NDA MPs were protesting peacefully... We have given a complaint under Sections 109, 115, 117, 125, 131 and 351. Section 109 is an attempt to murder, Section 117 is voluntary causing grievous hurt," he said.
Their allegations come after both the NDA and INDIA bloc parties staged a protest in Parliament, leading to an alleged scuffle and injuring two BJP MPs Pratap Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput.
Both the MPs were rushed and admitted to Delhi's Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.
INDIA Bloc MPs led by Rahul Gandhi held a protest on Thursday in the Parliament premises and demanded the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah over his remarks on Babasaheb Ambedkar.
The issue snowballed into a major political controversy with the Congress seeking the resignation of Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders attacking the opposition party.