"He behaved like a goon...": BJP Hits Back at Rahul Gandhi, Accuses him of "Misconduct" Over Parliament Protest Incident

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday reacted strongly to Rahul Gandhi’s defense following an altercation in Parliament, where he was accused of pushing two BJP MPs. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, speaking at a press conference, expressed disappointment that Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had not apologized for their actions during the protest. Chouhan described the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha as behaving “like a goon.”

"We were hoping they would apologize for their misconduct in Parliament today, but they did not," said Chouhan.

Chouhan went on to accuse Gandhi of instigating the incident at Makar Dwar, where BJP leaders were protesting. He stated that despite requests from security officials to use another gate, Gandhi pushed through, causing chaos. “Rahul Gandhi intentionally went there even after being requested by security officials to use the other gate and started pushing and shoving,” Chouhan said. "Rahul Gandhi behaved like a goon. He started pushing there," he added.

The incident, according to Chouhan, led to BJP MP Pratap Sarangi, falling and suffering a serious head injury. Sarangi was hospitalized and admitted to the ICU, where he underwent an MRI scan. "Our elderly MP Pratap Sarangi fell and he was seriously injured on the head. He was unconscious," Chouhan explained. "Will physical power be used in Parliament instead of logic?" the Union Agriculture Minister said.

In addition to Sarangi, Chouhan also raised concerns about other MPs who were allegedly affected by Gandhi’s actions. He mentioned Nagaland MP Phangnon Konyak, who reportedly claimed to have been threatened and pushed by Gandhi. "On whatever our Adivasi MP Phangnon Konyak, we are full of pain at what she mentioned," Chouhan said. "She was treated inappropriately... The Speaker said that she approached him while crying."

On the other hand, Rahul Gandhi, speaking at a press conference earlier in the day, accused BJP MPs of blocking opposition members from entering the Parliament complex. "The Union Home Minister has shown his mindset in front of everyone," Gandhi said, referring to BJP’s Amit Shah. "We have demanded an apology from him and his resignation, but he (Amit Shah) has refused to do so."

Gandhi claimed that when opposition MPs were attempting to enter from the Ambedkar statue, BJP MPs obstructed them at the stairs to the Parliament complex. "BJP MPs, however, were standing in front of us at the stairs of the Parliament complex and didn't allow us to enter the House," Gandhi added. He further accused the BJP of disrespecting Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, calling for Amit Shah's resignation over the incident. The leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha added that this is a ploy devised by the BJP to divert attention from Adani's US indictment case.

Earlier on Thursday, chaos broke out outside Parliament as MPs from both the NDA and INDIA bloc held separate protests in response to Amit Shah’s remarks about Dr. BR Ambedkar. The situation intensified when the two groups clashed at the Makar Dwar entrance to the Parliament House. Tensions further escalated when BJP MP Pratap Chandra Sarangi accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of pushing an MP, causing him to fall and sustain an injury. In his defense, Gandhi explained that he was trying to enter Parliament when BJP MPs, who were responding to protests from the INDIA alliance, confronted him.​