BSP MP Danish Ali.
Credit: X/@KDanishAli
BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri's communal pejoratives against Danish Ali flared up on Friday with the BSP MP writing to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking referring the issue to the Privileges Committee even as Opposition parties sought strict action against him.
Birla, officials said, has taken "serious note" of the objectionable comments made by Bidhuri in Lok Sabha on Thursday and warned him of "strict action" if such behaviour is repeated in the future. The objectionable remarks, which were communal in nature, made during the discussion on success of Chandrayan-III were removed from the records on Thursday late night while Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed regret.
Top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi along with party General Secretary (Organisation) K C Venugopal met Ali at the latter’s residence to express solidarity. The Congress followed it up with its Leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury writing to Birla, seeking the matter be referred to Privileges Committee. NCP’s Supriya Sule, DMK's Kanimozhi, and Trinamool Congress’ Aparup Poddar also wrote a similar letter seeking Privileges Committee probe.
In his letter, Ali said, "I write to you with deep anguish regarding the speech given in Lok Sabha by an MP of the BJP Mr Ramesh Bidhuri during the discussion on 'Chandrayan success'. During the course of his speech, he directed the most foul, abusive invectives against me which are part of the record of the Lok Sabha."
"This is most unfortunate and the fact that it has happened in the new parliament building under your leadership as Speaker is truly heartbreaking for me as a minority member of this great nation and an elected Member of Parliament," the Amroha MP said while listing the communal pejoratives the BJP lawmaker used during his speech.
He said referring the issue to the Committee of Privileges is the "only way out to discipline an experienced member so that the atmosphere of our country is not vitiated any further".
A number of Opposition parties and leaders came out in support of Ali, with some like the CPI(M) demanding Bidhuri's arrest. "No privilege for hate speech, arrest Ramesh Bidhuri. Filthy abusive language used by BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri against Danish Ali ( BSP) on the floor constitutes the worst kind of hate speech indicted by the SC. No MP can claim privilege for such speech. He should be arrested," the CPI(M) said in a statement.
NCP’s Supriya Sule too submitted a separate letter to the Speaker seeking to ask the Committee of Privileges to look into the matter. Congress is also planning to submit a letter.
Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh said the remarks were an insult to all members of Parliament. Bidhuri should be suspended from the Lok Sabha for his remarks, he said.
"It is an absolute shame what Bidhuri has said. Rajnath Singh's apology is simply not acceptable. It is a half-hearted apology, it was an afterthought. What Bidhuri has said is an insult to Parliament and makes a mockery of what the prime minister keeps repeating 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikaas, Sabka Sabka Vishvaas, Sabka Prayas' which becomes all 'bakwaas' (nonsense)," Ramesh told reporters here.
Demanding suspension for Bidhuri, he also said that AAP's Sanjay Singh and Raghav Chadha (of AAP) stand suspended for exercising their democratic right of protest inside Parliament and Mr Bidhuri has spoken in a language that is an insult not only to Danish Ali but also to every MP and every Indian".
AAP's Singh said, "I raised the issue of violence in Manipur and I was suspended. What action will be taken against this MP who abused K Danish Ali?"
Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra wrote on 'X', "abusing Muslims, OBCs an integral part of BJP culture - most now see nothing wrong with it. Narendra Modi has reduced Indian Muslims to living in such a state of fear in their own land that they grin & bear everything. Sorry but I'm calling this out. Ma Kali holds my spine."
Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Priyanka Chaturvedi wrote, "filthy language used by a BJP parliamentarian for fellow MP from BSP Kunwar Danish Ali. No shame left. This is sickening. Will Speaker Lok Sabha take note and take action."
Visuals of another BJP MP seen laughing when Bidhuri made the remarks also became a controversy but Harsh Vardhan claimed some people with vested interest have "dragged" his name into the issue.
"While I was no doubt witness to the jugglery of words being thrown at each other (which in fact the entire House was), the truth of the matter is that in the chaos that existed, I could not clearly hear what was being said...I ask my Muslim friends who are writing against me on social media today, whether they actually believe that I could ever have become party to usage of such derogatory language that would hurt the sensibilities of any one community?" Harsh Vardhan said in a long post on 'X'.