The minister said the BJP did not use its numbers to get a physical advantage.
New Delhi:
Launching a volley against Rahul Gandhi for allegedly injuring two Members of Parliament from the BJP during the tussle on Thursday, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has said that “pushing around” an MP is not a sign of ‘mardangi’ (masculinity).
In an exclusive interview with The Hindkesharion Friday, the Parliamentary Affairs minister said Thursday’s incident involving Mr Gandhi, who is a Congress MP and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, was “avoidable”.
The BJP has alleged that during the protest and counter-protest at one of the Parliament’s gates on Thursday over Home Minister Amit Shah’s ‘fashion’ remarks on BR Ambedkar, the Congress leader had pushed BJP MP Mukesh Rajput, who fell on fellow MP Pratap Sarangi, injuring both of them. The MPs were subsequently hospitalised.
Referring to the First Information Report registered against Mr Gandhi based on a BJP MP’s complaint, Mr Rijiju said, “There are heated exchanges in words in the Parliament. It’s been there since 1952, it’s nothing new. But when an incident leads to injury and a police case, then it’s very unfortunate. The police action is because of the injuries, which led to two MPs being admitted to hospital… It was avoidable, the Leader of Opposition should not get into physical mode.”
Taking a dig on Thursday, the Union Minister had asked Mr Gandhi, who holds a black belt in Aikido, a Japanese martial art form, “Have you learnt karate, kung fu, to beat other MPs?”
Asked about this on Friday, Mr Rijiju said, “It is said martial arts are for self-defence. But I believe games, sports and martial arts are for physical well-being and a desire for fitness, not to hit somebody. But Rahul Gandhi coming to the Parliament in t-shirts and pushing around an old, fragile MP, that is not ‘mardangi’ (masculinity). That is not showing that you are a good parliamentarian. Muscle power is not the symbol of a good parliamentarian.”
Mr Gandhi had denied that he had pushed anybody and said that BJP MPs were obstructing him. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had also claimed that he was pushed by BJP MPs and his knees were injured. When Mr Rijiju was asked about this, he said BJP MPs were protesting at the Makar Dwar (main gate) of Parliament and Rahul Gandhi tried to force his way in and pushed people around.
‘Did Not Use Our Numbers’
Mr Gandhi had denied that he had pushed anybody and said that BJP MPs were obstructing him. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had also claimed that he was pushed by BJP MPs and his knees were injured. When Mr Rijiju was asked about this, he said BJP MPs were protesting at the Makar Dwar (main gate) of Parliament and Rahul Gandhi tried to force his way in and pushed people around.
“BJP MPs were also there in large numbers which could be intimidating, but they were very careful. Nobody tried to get physical, nobody tried to use force. We did not use our numbers for physical advantage, that is not something that you consider in a parliamentary democracy. Physical numbers are for voting, for running the house… not for hitting opponents. I never thought Rahul Gandhi would get into a physical mode like that. He started pushing around and two of our aged MPs got injured. It’s very sad,” he said.
Pressed about Mr Kharge’s allegations, Mr Rijiju asserted, “He’s not injured. He said his knee had a problem. How can you hit Kharge ji, such an old, respected man. Let us not get into too many things. Two MPs got admitted. They can’t hit themselves, no? Somebody pushed them, Rahul Gandhi pushed them. That is very clear. So, there’s no need to get into a blame game.”