Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Friday visited Bahujan Samaj Party MP Danish Ali amid the raging controversy over BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri's comments aimed at Danish Ali. “Nafrat ke bazaar mein mohabbat ki dukan,” Rahul Gandhi said after meeting the BSP MP. The Congress demanded action against Bidhuri who hurled abuses at the Muslim MP in the Lok Sabha on Thursday. Danish Ali, meanwhile, brought a privilege motion against Bidhuri and said if Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla does not take action against Bidhuri, he might consider leaving Parliament. BSP is not part of the opposition bloc – the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance. "He came here to keep my morale high and to extend his support... He said that I am not alone and everyone who is standing with democracy is standing with me..." Danish Ali said on his meeting with Rahul Gandhi.
"I am hopeful that the Speaker will take action against this. But if that does not happen I will consider leaving Parliament with a heavy heart because people have not sent me to Parliament to listen to hate speech...Does one get to learn such language at RSS shakhas?" Danish Ali said.
'Never in the history of Parliament': Adhir Chowdhury's letter to Lok Sabha Speaker
Congress Lok Sabha leader Adhir Chowdhury wrote to Om Birla on the incident and said such words were never used against a member of a minority community in the history of Parliament and that too in the presence of the Speaker. "....expunging the remarks from the records of the House has no meaningful impact. Considering the circumstances and the brazen violation of all norms and rules relating to the functioning of the House, it would only be appropriate to have the matter examined in detail by the Privileges Committee and punitive action taken against the errant Member, Ramesh Bidhuri," Adhir wrote.
{{/usCountry}}Congress Lok Sabha leader Adhir Chowdhury wrote to Om Birla on the incident and said such words were never used against a member of a minority community in the history of Parliament and that too in the presence of the Speaker. "....expunging the remarks from the records of the House has no meaningful impact. Considering the circumstances and the brazen violation of all norms and rules relating to the functioning of the House, it would only be appropriate to have the matter examined in detail by the Privileges Committee and punitive action taken against the errant Member, Ramesh Bidhuri," Adhir wrote.
{{/usCountry}}What Bidhuri called him inside the Lok Sabha was nothing but a hate speech, Danish Ali said. "He (Bidhuri) is a senior MP. (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi ji's two former cabinet colleagues, senior parliamentarians Ravi Shankar Prasad and Harsh Vardhan, were laughing and thumping desks. This behaviour of the BJP has been witnessed by people in new India's new Parliament's first special session," the BSP MP said. Harsh Vardhan has issued a detailed statement distancing himself from the incident saying that though he was present, he could not hear what was being said. Ravi Shankar Prasad too said he does not support any indecent comment.
(With inputs from Bureau)