New Delhi [India], December 19 : Congress MP Hibi Eden has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, refuting the allegations of misbehaviour made against Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi by BJP MP Phangnon Konyak.
Hibi Eden termed the allegations as fabricated and accused Konyak of attempting to tarnish the reputation of the Leader of Opposition with an 'atrocious statement and blatant lie.'
In a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Eden categorically rejected the claims made by Konyak, stating that the allegation was "entirely fabricated and devoid of facts."
He further described the allegation as a "malicious attempt" to undermine the integrity of Rahul Gandhi, who serves as the Leader of the Opposition.
"I Hibi Eden, MP of Lok Sabha would herewith depose before your goodself, the following facts upon the best of my knowledge and solemn belief. The allegation levelled against Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition by S Phangnon Konyak MP Rajya Sabha is an atrocious statement and blatant lie aimed at him," said the letter.
Hibi Eden in the letter said, "Let me state at the very outset that I was present with the Hon'ble Leader of Opposition during the entire course of event and at no point of time Shri Rahul Gandhi Ji had ever come into proximity with the person who made the allegations. The allegation of Shri Rahul Gandhi being insensitive to the rights of women and scheduled Tribes is yet another bogus claim and at no point did Rahul Gandhi Ji said, acted or expressed any statement, act or word that proved anathemic to the complainant."
"The very allegation made against Shri Rahul Gandhi by Smt S Phangnon Konyak MP is entirely fabricated and this devoid of facts and is a malicious attempt at belittling the integrity of the leader of opposition. I would like to state that my deposition be considered as a solemn statement and I further implore that your goodself may kindly accept this as my statement and take further action," read the letter.
Earlier in the day, BJP MP Phangnon Konyak said that she "felt very uncomfortable" by Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition allegedly coming very close to her and shouting at her while INDIA bloc leaders protested at the Parliament premises.
Konyak was talking about the parallel protests of INDIA bloc and NDA regarding the remarks of Union Home Minister Amit Shah on B R Ambedkar. During the protests, a scuffle broke out and two BJP MPs were injured.
"I say this with a very heart, for which I have already sought your protection, today while protesting, it was a peaceful protest. I was standing just below the staircase of Makar Dwar. Something happened to me and I feel really disheartened. LoP Rahul Gandhi came really close proximity of me, and I really felt uncomfortable, and he shouted at me which I feel is really unbecoming of the leader of Opposition. It is not that I cannot defend myself but still then it is really unbecoming," MP Konyak said in Parliament.
She also requested protection from Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar, submitting a notice on that regard.
"What I felt that his action today was really bad and I feel disheartened and no lady member, let alone me should be made to feel like this. So therefore I seek your protection in this matter, for which I have already sent a notice to you sir (Rajya Sabha Chairman)," she said.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said that Rahul Gandhi and the whole party should seek an apology from the Parliament for allegedly injuring other MPs and making another RS member uncomfortable.
"The way opposition MP (Rahul Gandhi) physically charged a lady member and also injured two other members of the Lok Sabha, that they had to be admitted to the hospital as they were bleeding. I cannot even believe Congress party's behaviour, it is really shameful," Rijiju said in parliament.
He further said that the house should never stoop down to such a level that hands are raised on other MPs, and sought an apology from the whole party.
"We have the numbers and we are not scared but we do not want to disrespect and bring down the level of the House by pushing anyone around. I am asking with my hands folded, that the whole Congress party should seek an apology from the Parliament, ask for an apology from the country too," he said.
Reiterating that the Parliament should not be like a "wrestling ground," he said that despite having numbers, they do not raise hands on other MPs.
He said, "Parliament is not a wrestling ground, we do not raise hands on other MPs. The way Rahul Gandhi has injured other MPs, our parliament is really angry with it. If we had raised hands on them, what would have happened? We have the numbers."