Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has been booked by the Delhi Police following a complaint by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Hemang Joshi. The complaint alleges Gandhi violated security instructions and incited opposition MPs to disrupt a BJP protest, leading to a physical altercation at the Parliament’s Makar Dwar gate on Thursday.
The FIR states that Gandhi ignored Parliament security personnel’s directive to use the designated entry route. It further accuses him of inciting other MPs from the INDIA bloc alliance to advance aggressively toward protesting BJP lawmakers, endangering their safety. The altercation reportedly left BJP MPs Pratap Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput injured, with both requiring medical attention.
The incident occurred as BJP MPs, including Sarangi and Rajput, staged a protest against what they described as the spread of misinformation by the Opposition. According to the FIR, Gandhi arrived at the scene around 10:40 am, disregarded instructions to use the designated route, and allegedly acted with “malicious intent” to disrupt the protest. The FIR claims Gandhi’s actions were deliberate and constituted a criminal assault, incitement to violence, and reckless endangerment.
The injuries sustained during the scuffle have intensified the political clash. BJP MP Mukesh Rajput reportedly suffered a severe head injury, while Pratap Sarangi sustained a forehead injury. The FIR asserts that Gandhi’s actions were intentional and fully aware of the potential for harm, describing his behavior as endangering peaceful protesters.
In response, the Congress party has accused BJP MPs of initiating the physical confrontation. Party leaders allege that their MPs, including Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, were pushed during the protest march. Rahul Gandhi countered the allegations, claiming he was the one pushed and prevented from entering Parliament by BJP lawmakers.
The Congress has demanded the release of CCTV footage from the incident to clarify the sequence of events. Gandhi openly challenged the BJP, stating, “We want them to release the CCTV footage immediately. The truth will come out, and everyone will know what happened.”
The incident highlights growing tensions between the BJP and the Opposition, with both sides accusing each other of inciting violence. As calls for transparency intensify, the release of CCTV footage could play a pivotal role in determining accountability and providing clarity on the altercation.
