Rahul Gandhi did not even say ‘sorry’, rues Nirmala Sitharaman

At the end of a dramatic Thursday, too many versions and videos had surfaced on the scuffle at one of the entry points to Parliament, Makar Dwar. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that BJP MPs had shoved him, causing him to fall and injure his knee. Women MPs from Opposition parties alleged that BJP MPs barred their way and prevented them from entering Parliament, abusing, mocking, and even physically intimidating them.

BJP MPs, of course, had a different story to tell. Their ire was directed at the leader of the Opposition. It was Rahul Gandhi, they alleged, who had caused the chaos and the domino effect by roughly shoving one of the BJP MPs.

This is what finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman also maintained. Alleging that Rahul Gandhi had “forcefully pushed an MP, causing a domino effect that injured” three BJP MPs, she took to X to castigate Rahul Gandhi for not even saying ‘sorry’. In one of the videos that surfaced on social media, controversial BJP MP Nishikant Dubey is heard angrily telling Rahul Gandhi, "Kya Rahul, ye kya gundagardi hai?" while pointing to BJP MP Pratap Sarangi sitting on the staircase after sustaining a head injury.

Rahul Gandhi, who had sauntered up to the group of BJP MPs to enquire about the commotion, ignored Dubey and walked away after saying he had not shoved anyone. At a short media briefing later in the day, addressed by both Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Gandhi, the LOP made no mention of the scuffle, merely saying the BJP was busy diverting attention and evading a discussion on the Adani affair. Asked to comment on the allegations by the BJP MPs, he would merely say, “Look at the CCTV footage yourself; ask them for it."

One of the ‘hospitalised’ BJP MPs, Mukesh Rajput, also appeared to give Rahul Gandhi a clean chit. Asked repeatedly by a newsman (?) in the hospital whether it was Rahul Gandhi who had pushed him, Rajput said the Congress MP was actually in front of him and the push had come from behind.

While Rajput had the conversation inside the ICU at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital at around 1.00 pm, he had been wheeled out on a chair a little while later, and it looked like he was about to be discharged. Someone offered him a mobile phone and told him PM Modi wanted to enquire about his wellbeing.

The caller, who sounded like the PM, asked the MP how he was feeling. Rajput told him he was fine now but still had a reeling sensation. His voice was strong and the PM or whoever was calling cut off the conversation in less than 20 seconds after asking him to take care of himself. Half-an-hour later, he was again wheeled into the ICU, this time lying on a stretcher with his eyes closed.

In a separate video released by a news agency, the medical superintendent of RML is heard explaining that the other injured MP, Pratap Sarangi, was an elderly person and a head injury could cause a stroke or a heart attack. His blood pressure was still on the higher side and his condition needed ‘close monitoring’.

Later, BJP MP Anurag Singh Thakur told a news agency, "We have filed a complaint with Delhi Police against Rahul Gandhi for assault and incitement. We have mentioned in detail the incident that happened today outside Makar Dwar, where NDA MPs were protesting peacefully... We have given a complaint under sections 109, 115, 117, 125, 131 and 351. Section 109 is attempt to murder, 117 is voluntary causing grievous hurt..."

Two opposition MPs, Hibi Eden and Pappu Yadav however, scoffed at the ‘story’ and claimed that Gandhi was, in fact, trying to calm Opposition MPs, asking them to ignore the provocative slogans. Their versions can be heard in the following clips shared by them on social media.

Even more dramatically, a BJP woman MP lodged a complaint against the LOP, alleging that she felt uncomfortable when Rahul Gandhi came and stood too close to her and began shouting at her.

“It's quite unfortunate that a female BJP MP has lodged a fake complaint against the Leader of the Opposition Shri Rahul Gandhi to the chairman of the Rajya Sabha," said Eden, who was present alongside Gandhi.

Tomorrow, 20 December, is the last day of the winter session of Parliament. It promises to be equally dramatic and turbulent.