Mallikarjun Kharge says BJP MPs 'pushed' him in Parliament premises
New Delhi (PTI): Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, claiming he was physically pushed by BJP MPs in Parliament premises following which he lost his balance.
The Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha asked the LS Speaker to order an inquiry into the BJP MPs "pushing" him, says it was an assault not just on him but on the Rajya Sabha LoP and the Congress president.
"I was physically pushed by BJP MPs; lost my balance and was forced to sit down on ground in front of Makar Dwar," Kharge said.
His remarks came after a face-off between the opposition and NDA MPs in Parliament premises over the alleged insult to B R Ambedkar left former minister Pratap Chandra Sarangi injured.
The BJP accused Rahul Gandhi of pushing the senior member, a charge rejected by the Congress leader.
Trouble began when the INDIA bloc members insisted on entering Parliament through the BJP MPs holding a protest instead of using the space left empty on one side of the staircase of the Makar Dwar, used by members to enter and exit the building.
Some senior Congress MPs in the Lok Sabha also wrote to Speaker Birla alleging that Rahul Gandhi was “physically manhandled” and urged him to take appropriate action.
“We are writing to express our deep anguish regarding an incident that occurred on the premises of Parliament today. Members of the INDIA alliance were peacefully protesting and marching from the Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar statue to Makar Dwar. "However, as we attempted to enter the Parliament through Makar Dwar, the protesting MPs were physically obstructed from entering,” the letter signed by Congress MPs K C Venugopal, Kudukunil Suresh, Ravindra Chavan Dean Kuriakose and V K Sreekandan said.
“We would also like to bring to your notice that Shri Rahul Gandhi Leader of Opposition was physically manhandled by three MPs from the ruling party. This is a clear violation of the privileges extended to the Leader of Opposition and infringes on the rights accorded to him in his official capacity as an MP,” they said.
Their conduct was not only a blatant assault on the personal dignity of Rahul Gandhi, but antithetical to the democratic spirit of our parliament, the letter said.
“We hope that you will treat this matter with utmost seriousness and take appropriate action,” the MPs said in their letter to Birla.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
India-China affirm disengagement progress, discuss bilateral relations
New Delhi: National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met in Beijing on Wednesday, marking the first boundary talks between the Special Representatives (SR) since 2019. Both sides “positively affirmed” the progress of their disengagement agreement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and emphasized learning from the four-year military standoff to maintain peace and stability at the border.
The talks also focused on restoring bilateral ties disrupted by tensions at the LAC. Discussions included reopening cross-border exchanges such as the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage, data sharing on trans-border rivers, and border trade. A statement from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted a “six-point consensus” reached during the dialogue, aimed at preserving border peace and fostering improved relations. While India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) did not mention the six-point framework, it reiterated a shared commitment to resolving boundary issues based on earlier political guidelines.
The SR meeting, resumed after a five-year hiatus, comes on the heels of the October 2024 disengagement agreement in eastern Ladakh. This agreement, covering areas like Depsang and Demchok, allowed for patrolling and grazing, paving the way for further discussions on troop de-escalation and de-induction along the border.
The talks did not touch on the resumption of direct flights or journalist exchanges, previously discussed during External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's meeting with Wang Yi in Rio de Janeiro. However, Doval’s meeting with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng underscored the need to restore exchanges in economic, cultural, and trade sectors.
During the meeting, both sides acknowledged the importance of peace at the LAC for broader bilateral relations. Doval extended an invitation to Wang Yi to visit New Delhi for the next round of SR talks, reinforcing India’s commitment to strengthening strategic communication with China.
