'Hurt my knees': Kharge says BJP MPs pushed him; Congress leaders allege Rahul was manhandled

New Delhi: Congress on Thursday accused the BJP MPs of pushing Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and manhandling his Lok Sabha counterpart Rahul Gandhi, as it urged Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to take action against them.

Party MPs also filed a police complaint against BJP lawmakers for allegedly misbehaving with Kharge, as both sides had a showdown in Parliament House following protests over Ambedkar. In separate letters, Kharge and the Congress MPs urged Birla to look into the action and take appropriate action.

BJP denied the accusations with Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan saying that Rahul "pushed forcefully" and due to this, around 3-4 MPs fell and in it, BJP MPs Pratap Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput were badly injured. Sarangi and Rajput have been admitted to the ICU, he said.Newly-elected MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra termed the allegations against Rahul as a "conspiracy to save Home Minister Amit Shah's skin".

In his letter, Kharge said their protest was against the "insulting remarks" made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha on December 17. "When I reached Makar Swar, I was physically pushed by BJP MPs. Thereafter I lost my balance and was forced to sit down on the ground in front of Makar Dwar," he said.

"This inflicted injury on my knees, which have already undergone surgery. Subsequently, Congress MPs brought a chair and I was made to sit on it. With great difficulty and with the support of my colleagues, I limped to the House at 11 AM," he said in the letter.

Kharge urged the Speaker to order an inquiry into the incident, which is an "assault not just on me personally but on the Leader of the Opposition, Rajya Sabha and the Congress president".

In their letter, over a dozen Congress MPs, who met Birla, said, "we would also like to bring to your notice that Rahul Gandhi was physically manhandled by three MPs from the ruling party. This is a clear violation of the privileges extended to the Leader of Opposition and infringes on the rights accorded to him in his official capacity as an MP. Their conduct was not only a blatant assault on the personal dignity of Rahul Gandhi but antithetical to the democratic spirit of Parliament.

Priyanka told reporters, "we have been protesting for so many days and there is always space for people to enter freely. Peaceful protests are taking place daily from 10.30 am to 11 am. Today, for the first time, they (BJP MPs) protested and stopped everyone and then indulged in pushing and 'goodagardi' (hooliganism)'."

"Now to save Amit Shah's skin they have started this conspiracy that 'bhaiya' (Rahul) has pushed someone. Right before my eyes, Kharge-ji was pushed and he fell on the ground. Then they pushed a CPI(M) MP who fell on Kharge-ji. I thought it would have broken his leg as it was visible from his face that he was hurt," she said.

"This is a conspiracy. We challenged those who were stopping us to say 'Jai Bhim'. Why can't they raise the slogan of 'Jai Bhim'?" she added.

Rahul said both Kharge and Priyanka were pushed "but we don't get bothered with this pushing around".