The opposition has come out all guns blazing against the BJP after its Delhi MP Ramesh Bidhuri termed BSP's Danish Ali a 'terrorist' and used communal slurs against him during Lok Sabha proceedings on Thursday. A video clip of the comment, which has now gone viral on social media, has evoked sharp reactions as well from Speaker Om Birla who said there will be a strict warning if such behaviour was repeated.
News agency ANI, quoting sources, reported that the BJP has issued a show-cause notice to Ramesh Bidhuri on the instruction of party president JP Nadda for the use of unparliamentary language against Danish Ali.
'Apology Insufficient'
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the BJP leader's remark was highly condemnable and even though Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh apologised, it was insufficient. He said, "What Ramesh Bidhuri said about Danish Ali is highly condemnable. The more it is criticised, the less it is. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has apologised but that is insufficient. I have never heard such language. This language should not be used inside or outside the Parliament. This is an insult to not only Danish Ali but all of us...The beginning of the new Parliament has been done by Bidhuri and his words. This shows the intentions of BJP. What Bidhuri is saying is BJP's intention...I think this is a fit case for suspension and strictest punishment should be taken against him."
Reacting to Bidhuri's remarks, RJD MP Manoj Jha said he was saddened but not surprised. He said, "This is the truth of PM's 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'. We need to think that if such words were used for an MP in Parliament, then to what kind of language against Muslims, Dalits legitimacy is been given? Till now, the PM could not say a word on Ramesh Bidhuri."
Bengal Minister Shashi Panja while condemning the statement said, "BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri uttered derogatory insulting remarks against fellow MP in House yesterday. How was this offensive language allowed by the Speaker of the House? Does this not affect the respect of the House. TMC condemns this kind of parliamentary behaviour."
Meanwhile, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said, "If he has only said 'terrorist', we are habitual to hearing it... Those words were used against the whole Muslim community. I can't understand how can Muslims associated with the BJP tolerate this? This shows what they think about Muslims...They should be ashamed."
Sharing the video of Bidhuri, TMC MP Mahua Moitra tagged Speaker Om Birla, PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in her tweet and urged them to take action. .
Taking a jibe at PM Modi and Amit Shah, Congress leader Pawan Khera tweeted, "I have seen Ramesh Bidhuri as MLA in Delhi Assembly. He was better during those days. I guess, in the Parliament his upbringing has been ably done by Modi-Shah. New Parliament. New India."
On the other hand, sharing a clip of the viral video, the AAP questioned former Union Ministers Vardhan and Ravi Shankar Prasad. The party dubbed the incident a 'new low inside new Parliament of India' and tweeted, "BJP MP Dr. Harsh Vardhan and Ravi Shankar Prasad were shamelessly laughing when their colleague Ramesh Bidhuri was abusing Muslim MP Danish Ali, calling him a "terrorist".
Harsh Vardhan Responds
To this, Harsh Vardhan has reacted to this and dismissed the allegations. In a long tweet he said he, "I feel sad and humiliated that some people with vested interest have dragged my name into this. 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 have always stood by my own principles in life. And I have never been apologetic about following them, keeping the interest of my country and its people above everything else."