New Delhi: BJP MP from Nagaland Phongan Konyak has complained to the Rajya Sabha Chairman against Rahul Gandhi, claiming he misbehaved and stood “too close” during the protests by her party and Congress members outside the Parliament on Thursday. The protests turned into mayhem as both parties accused each other of shoving and injuring their leaders.
“I was standing just below the stairs of Makar Dwaar with a placard in my hand. The security personnel had cordoned off and created a passage to the entrance right for the moment of Hon’ble MP’s of other parties. Suddenly, the Leader of the Opposition, Shri Rahul Gandhi Ji along with other party members came in front of me despite there being a passage created for them,” she wrote in her letter.
“He misbehaved with me in a loud voice and his physical proximity to me was so close that I, being a lady member, felt extremely uncomfortable,” the MP claimed.
Speaking to media persons outside Parliament, Konyak repeated her claims, saying “Rahul Gandhi came close… I did not like it and he started shouting…Whatever happened today is very sad, this should not happen. We did not like the way they threatened…I have also complained to the Chairman.”
#WATCH | Delhi: BJP Rajya Sabha MP Phangnon Konyak says, “LoP Rahul Gandhi came close… I did not like it and he started shouting…Whatever happened today is very sad, this should not happen. We did not like the way they threatened…I have also complained to the Chairman…” https://t.co/d83HUvwQFl pic.twitter.com/oGtaja66le
— ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2024
In her complaint, Konyak stated that she “stepped aside with a heavy heart, denouncing my democratic rights, but felt that no Member of Parliament should act in this manner.”
She added that, as a woman and a member of the Scheduled Tribe community, Gandhi’s actions deeply hurt her dignity and self-esteem. Konyak sought the protection of the Rajya Sabha Chairman in the matter.
She also laid the allegations while speaking in the Rajya Sabha.
Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar confirmed receiving the complaint and said that he is looking into it.
“The woman MP came to me in tears. I have the details. She met me, and I am discussing this. She was in a state of shock, and I am giving the matter my full attention,” he said.
Parliament protests
Outside Parliament, tensions flared as the BJP-led NDA and the Congress-led INDIA bloc staged simultaneous protests, accusing each other of disrespecting B.R. Ambedkar. The controversy arose after the Congress alleged that Home Minister Amit Shah insulted Ambedkar during his speech in the Rajya Sabha.
During the protest, BJP’s Pratap Sarangi suffered head injuries with the party alleging that Rahul Gandhi pushed another MP, who fell on him, causing the injury. Meanwhile, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge claimed he suffered knee injuries after being pushed by BJP MPs. The BJP has announced plans to file an FIR against Rahul Gandhi while a Congress delegation has already reached the Parliament Street police station to lodge a complaint against BJP leaders.
