Fri Dec 20 12:40:05 UTC 2024: ## Rijiju Accuses Rahul Gandhi of Assault, Denies BJP Used “Muscle Power” in Parliament Clash

**New Delhi:** Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of assaulting two BJP MPs during a parliamentary clash on Thursday, calling the incident “unfortunate” and “avoidable.” Rijiju, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, stated in an exclusive interview with NDTV that Gandhi’s actions, which allegedly resulted in injuries to MPs Mukesh Rajput and Pratap Sarangi requiring hospitalization, were not befitting a leader. An FIR has been filed based on a BJP MP’s complaint.

Rijiju criticized Gandhi’s alleged use of physical force, questioning whether his martial arts training was intended for “self-defence” or to “beat other MPs.” He asserted that while heated debates are common in Parliament, physical violence is unacceptable. He denied allegations that BJP MPs were overly aggressive, stating that despite their numbers, they refrained from using force.

The clash stemmed from a protest over Home Minister Amit Shah’s comments on B.R. Ambedkar, which the BJP maintains were taken out of context. Rijiju claimed that the Congress was attempting to exploit a small portion of Shah’s speech to create unrest.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also claimed he was injured in the scuffle, a claim Rijiju dismissed. He emphasized that the injuries sustained by the two BJP MPs clearly indicate who was responsible for the violence.

Rijiju further criticized the Congress for disrupting Parliament’s proceedings, leading to a significant reduction in bill passage. He attributed this disruption, in part, to Congress’s focus on a US court case involving an Indian businessman. He also rejected suggestions that the BJP is unwilling to accept Rahul Gandhi as Leader of the Opposition.

Finally, Rijiju criticized a no-confidence motion against Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, calling it frivolous and procedurally flawed due to missing requirements and errors in the notice. He urged all MPs to prioritize parliamentary decorum over narrow political agendas.

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