Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
Protests and counter-protests have replaced proceedings in the Parliament over Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks on BR Ambedkar. Both the Congress and the BJP held simultaneous demonstrations in the Parliament premises accusing each other of insulting Ambedkar on Thursday. This further escalated into a scuffle with both the parties accusing each other of jostling and mishandling their MPs.
Click here to know more about the controversy over Amit Shah’s comments on BR Ambedkar.
The BJP alleged that two of its MPs, Pratap Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput, were injured by Congress leader and LoP Rahul Gandhi during the scuffle in the Parliament premises. Slamming Gandhi for the alleged assault, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said, “Have you (Gandhi) learnt karate, kung fu, to beat other MPs?”
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi, however, termed such allegations as a “conspiracy” against her brother. She also called out the alleged hooliganism of the BJP MPs, and claimed that the Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge was pushed in the tussle, and he “fell on the ground.”
As Congress and BJP indulge in blame-game, a video purportedly showing Rahul Gandhi admitting to pushing the BJP MP has gone viral online.
BJP’s Amit Malviya shared the video, claiming, “Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi admits on camera to having assaulted BJP MP Pratap Sarangi, leaving him grievously injured. This calls for criminal charges against him. There is overwhelming evidence, video footage and his own admission to convict Rahul Gandhi. The law must take its course.” Multiple others followed the suit.
A shorter version of the same clip was shared by multiple others alleging that Gandhi admitted to pushing the BJP leader. Such posts can be seen here, here and here.
But Did Rahul Gandhi Admit To Pushing BJP MP?
On carefully analysing the viral video, we heard reporters asking Rahul Gandhi, “The MPs are accusing you…”
Responding to the same he says, “…This is the Parliament’s entrance. I was trying to go inside, and the BJP MPs were trying to stop me, pushing me and threatening me. So this has happened…”
Following the same, we heard reporters asking, “Was Kharge Ji pushed?”
Gandhi is then heard saying, “….Yes, it was done….nothing happens from jostling here. This is the entrance of the Parliament house, and we have the right to go in…”
News agency ANI too shared the viral clip and quoted the LoP as saying, “This might be on your camera. I was trying to go inside through the Parliament entrance, BJP MPs were trying to stop me, push me and threaten me. So this happened…Yes, this has happened (Mallikarjun Kharge being pushed). But we do not get affected by jostling. But this is the entrance and we have the right to go in. BJP MPs were trying to stop us from going in…The central issue is that they are attacking the Constitution and insulting the memory of Ambedkar ji.”
NDTV also shared the same video byte of the Congress leader from another angle. In this video, a reporter can be initially heard saying, “…did it happen to you?,” as other voices asking about Mallikarjun Kharge join. Responding to the same, the LoP said, “Yes, it happened..”
Carrying the same video, Times of India too stated that Rahul Gandhi said “Yes, this has happened” in response to questions about Mallikarjun Kharge being pushed.
We didn’t find any credible reports stating the LoP has admitted to pushing the BJP MPs in Parliament premises today.
BJP Creating Distractions: Rahul Gandhi On Parliament Incident
Addressing a press conference after the alleged Parliament scuffle, Gandhi accused the BJP and the RSS of having “an anti-constitutional and anti-Ambedkar mindset.” He further alleged that the ruling party is attempting to distract attention from the Adani’s case in the US, and the Ambedkar row.
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“We said the home minister should apologize and resign (over his comments on BR Ambedkar)… Today again they have started a new distraction. We were peacefully going to Parliament House from Ambedkar ji’s statue. The BJP MPs were standing on the stairs of the Parliament House holding sticks, and did not let us enter. And now they are creating this distraction…”
“The reality is that they have insulted Ambedkar ji…The main issue they want to erase is that there is a case against Narendra Modi’s friend Adani ji in the United States and Narendra Modi ji is selling India to Adani ji. This is the main issue and these people do not want to discuss it,” he added.
From Parliament To Police Station: BJP, Congress File Complaints
The BJP has filed a complaint against Rahul Gandhi for “attempt to murder” alleging assault on its MPs. “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, Section 117 is voluntarily causing grievous hurt,” BJP MP Anurag Thakur said.
Also Read: Viral Video Showing Nirmala Sitharaman Saying She Is ‘Not The One who Gets Taxed’ Is AI Generated
The Congress MPs, accusing the BJP members of pushing and misbehaving with the Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, filed a complaint against the “hooliganism of BJP” in Parliament Street police station “against the misbehaving BJP MPs,” the party said in an X post.
Sources
Report By NDTV, Dated December 19, 2024
X Post By @ANI, Dated December 19, 2024
YouTube Video By NDTV, Dated December 19, 2024
X Post By @timesofindia, Dated December 19, 2024
Report By The Economic Times, Dated December 19, 2024
X Post By @INCIndia, Dated December 19, 2024
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Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
