Parliament scuffle row: What we know so far

As both Opposition and NDA MPs trade charges against each other of 'assaults' and confrontations during the protests outside the Parliament over the alleged insult to B R Ambedkar, we take a look at all that happened so far.

As parallel protests by the Opposition I.N.D.I.A. bloc and ruling NDA MPs in the Parliament premises over the alleged insult to B R Ambedkar take unprecedented turns, with both the BJP and Congress MPs flaying each other for 'assaulting' their MPs and physical confrontations, we take a look at the scenes unfolded so far.

The chaos outside the Parliament took new turns when former minister and BJP MP Pratap Chandra Sarangi alleged that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi pushed a senior member when they were standing on the stairs, leading to an injury on his head, a charge rejected by the Leader of Opposition.

"Rahul Gandhi pushed an MP, who fell on me and I got injured," Sarangi told reporters as BJP members squatted at the Makar Dwar raising slogans against the Congress.

Rahul gave his version of the event, telling reporters in Parliament premises, "I was trying to enter Parliament and the BJP MPs were stopping me, pushing me and threatening me."

How it all started?

Trouble began when the I.N.D.I.A. bloc members insisted on entering Parliament through the area where the BJP MPs where holding a protest instead of using the space left empty on one side of the staircase of the Makar Dwar, used by members to enter and exit the building.

The 69-year-old Sarangi, a BJP member from Balasore in Odisha, suffered injuries on the left temple of his forehead. As the incident came to Rahul Gandhi's notice, he approached the senior BJP MP who was injured in the melee.

This is when BJP member Nishikant Dubey accused Rahul of pushing the senior leader. A furious Dubey confronting Rahul asked, "Are you not ashamed Rahul, you are resorting to rowdy behaviour ('gundagardi'). You pushed an old man."

On his side, Rahul countered Dubey saying, "He pushed me."

Sarangi was later wheeled off to an ambulance and taken to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital for treatment.

Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said BJP MP Mukesh Rajput was also injured in the melee. According to various media reports, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called up Sarangi and Rajput and enquired about their health.

'Parliament not a wrestling ring'

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju reacting to the scenes outside the Parliament said "Appropriate action will be taken after examining the injuries suffered by Sarangi," said. "Parliament is not a place to show physical strength. It is not a wrestling ring," he added.

Meanwhile, Congress MPs met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and submitted a complaint against the alleged unruly conduct of BJP MPs against Rahul Gandhi and stopping him form entering Parliament House.

Kharge says BJP MPs 'pushed' him

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, on the other hand, wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, claiming he was physically pushed by BJP MPs in Parliament premises following which he lost his balance.

The Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha asked the LS Speaker to order an inquiry into the BJP MPs "pushing" him, says it was an assault not just on him but on the Rajya Sabha LoP and the Congress president.

"I was physically pushed by BJP MPs; lost my balance and was forced to sit down on ground in front of Makar Dwar," Kharge said.

Woman MP from Nagaland says 'dignity and self-esteem hurt'

Rajya Sabha MP S Phangnon Konyak has also written to the Chairman Rajya Sabha alleging misbehaviour by Congress MP and LoP Rahul Gandhi with her.

"My dignity and self-esteem has been deeply hurt by LoP Rahul Gandhi," she said in the letter to Chairman Rajya Sabha.

The protests outside the Parliament on Thursday came against the backdrop of the opposition seizing on Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks in Rajya Sabha on B R Ambedkar to corner the government and demanding his resignation for what they called was an insult to the architect of the Constitution.

The attack from virtually all opposition parties, including the Congress, TMC, DMK, RJD, Left parties and Shiv Sena-UBT, led to the adjournment of both Houses of Parliament and prompted the BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to come out in stout defence of Shah.

With PTI inputs