Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and KC Venugopal met Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MP Danish Ali, at the latter’s residence in Delhi on Friday. The meeting took place on the day when Danish Ali was name-called by BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri in Lok Sabha.
After meeting Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, Danish Ali said, “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 called it a ‘hate speech’ adding he could quit the House if action not taken against the BJP MP.
Rahul Gandhi also took to X after meeting Danish Ali and wrote, “Nafrat ke bazaar mei mohabbat ki dukaan”.
Extending support to Danish Ali, TMC MP Mahua Moitra said, “Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla always talks about the decorum of the House. BJP MP Bidhuri gave a ‘hate speech’ but he will not be taking action against him.”
“Earlier, bigots used to say such things in a closed room, today BJP has created an ecosystem where they have made it normal to say such things in the open. People have seen the true colours of the BJP,” she added.
“Ramesh Bidhuri’s remarks are beyond condemnation. It is very wrong. The Lok Sabha Speaker should give the strictest punishment to him. Why hasn’t he been suspended yet?” said Congress MP Rajiv Shukla.
“I am shocked that a shameful incident has happened inside the Parliament, at a time when a historic bill was being passed. The Parliamentary decorum was torn to pieces,” said Congress MP Imran Shayar.
Earlier during the day, Danish Ali had written a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking appropriate action against BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri.
In his letter, Danish Ali said that with a heavy heart, he may consider quitting the Lok Sabha if no action is taken against the BJP MP.
“Saying this with a heavy heart that I would be considering quitting the Lok Sabha if an appropriate action is not taken against Ramesh Bidhuri over his remarks,” said Danish Ali.
“I sent my letter to the office of Lok Sabha Speaker and I am confident that he will take cognizance of the incident and appropriate action. I have given notice. All things are on record and it’s happening for the first that this type of language has been used for an elected MP…,” the BSP MP wrote.
The said remarks were expunged from Parliamentary records and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh immediately expressed regret for Bidhuri’s behaviour in the House.
Taking “serious note” of Bidhuri’s remarks, Birla warned the Lok Sabha member from South Delhi of “strict action” if such behaviour was repeated in the future, officials said.
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