“I feel sad and humiliated that some people with vested interest have dragged my name into this,” clarifies BJP MP Harsh Vardhan after being dragged into the ongoing Bidhuri-Danish controversy

BJP MP Harsh Vardhan came under fire after he was seen chortling while BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri was seen hurling Islamophobic slurs at BSP MP Danish Ali in a video that surfaced, during an ongoing session on the success of Chandrayaan-3 in the Lok Sabha on Thursday. In his defense, Harsh Vardhan said that he could not properly hear what was being said. On being pointed out that he was grinning in the video, the former Health Minister alleged that he is being dragged into this controversy with "notorious and fabricated" stories being spread by some "vested political elements" on social media to tarnish his image.

Taking to X, Harsh Vardhan expressed his displeasure stating that he feels sad and humiliated that his name has been dragged into this. “I have seen my name trending on Twitter where people have dragged me into this unfortunate incident where two MPs were using unparliamentary language against each other on the floor of the House…….In thirty years of public life, I have worked closely with lakhs of Muslim brothers and sisters in my constituency as well as with colleagues from various walks of life. Born and brought up in Phatak Teliyan in the historic gullys of Chandni Chowk, I have spent my childhood and grown up playing with my Muslim friends. I can state with utmost confidence and conviction that all Muslim brothers and sisters who have ever been in contact with me will vouch for my sentiments and behavior. I was overjoyed to have won as a Member of Parliament from the prestigious constituency of Chandni Chowk and this could never have happened if all communities had not supported me. 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.” reads his tweet.

Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh had expressed his regret over Bidhuri’s speech in the house on Thursday. “I express regret if the opposition is hurt by the remarks made by the member," said the Defense Minister. Ramesh Bidhuri also received a warning from Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Friday stating that “strict action” will be taken if such an incident is repeated in the house.

The Opposition has called Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh’s apology an ‘eyewash’ and has been rallying for Bidhuri’s arrest or suspension from the Parliament at the earliest.

Taking to X, Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, "Two former Union Cabinet Ministers, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Dr. Harsh Vardhan, shamelessly gleeful at the hate speech made by their party colleague Ramesh Bidhuri yesterday in the Lok Sabha. They deserve as much condemnation as the most awful Bidhuri himself. This is the shameful level to which BJP under Modi-Shah has fallen.” He further stated that the apology issued is ‘half hearted’ and a mere ‘afterthought.’​