Parliament scuffle: Who Are the Injured MPs Pratap Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput?

Parliament scuffle: In a heated scuffle between members of the opposition and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) inside the Parliament premises, two Bharatiya Janata Party MPs, Pratap Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput, received head injuries. This episode, which has occurred relating to an alleged insult to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, has turned into a major political row. The BJP accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of resorting to physical assault, while the Congress party termed the allegations as “drama enacted for farce.”

According to reports, the scuffle occurred when Rahul Gandhi attempted to enter Parliament. Gandhi said BJP MPs blocked his entry, and he had a verbal and physical fight with them. The BJP has said that Gandhi pushed some senior party members, leaving Pratap Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput injured. Gandhi has denied the allegations, saying that he was obstructed by BJP members without provocation.

The Congress party condemned the BJP, saying it was a “manufactured controversy” to deflect focus from crucial national issues. Meanwhile, the BJP has lodged a police complaint against Rahul Gandhi, and the Congress filed a counter-complaint against the BJP.

#WATCH | Delhi | BJP MP Pratap Chandra Sarangi says, "Rahul Gandhi pushed an MP who fell on me after which I fell down…I was standing near the stairs when Rahul Gandhi came and pushed an MP who then fell on me…" pic.twitter.com/xhn2XOvYt4

— ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2024

Parliament scuffle: Who are the two injured MPs?

Pratap Chandra Sarangi

Pratap Chandra Sarangi is a 69-year-old BJP MP from Balasore, Odisha, who graduated in Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from Utkal University. Presently, Sarangi serves in both the Committee on Water Resources and the Committee on Public Undertakings. His long political tenure also includes the fact that he was an erstwhile member of the Odisha Legislative Assembly from 2004 to 2014. Sarangi has also held very significant positions like General Secretary of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) in Odisha and State President of the Bajrang Dal Odisha as well as Vice-President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Odisha. He is still admitted to the ICU of Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi.

Mukesh Rajput

Mukesh Rajput, a BJP MP from the Farrukhabad constituency in Uttar Pradesh, defeated Samajwadi Party candidate Naval Kishor Shakya in the 2024 elections by over 2,600 votes. He is a member of the Committee on Public Undertakings and the Committee on Labour, Textiles, and Skill Development. Mukesh Rajput has graduated in B.Sc. from R.P. Degree College in Kamalganj, Farrukhabad. Like the others, he also is being treated in the ICU of Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.

This has been resulting in a war of words between the BJP and the Congress. The BJP has criticized the alleged behavior of Rahul Gandhi by framing it as an attack on democratic norms. However, the Congress has accused the BJP of having staged the entire incident in the larger narrative to discredit opposition leaders.

A BJP spokesperson said the dignity of Parliament and its members must be protected and added, “This kind of behavior is not acceptable and should be condemned.” The Congress issued a statement terming the BJP’s accusations as “baseless” and an attempt to “save face” in the wake of growing public discontent over government policies.

The controversy has raised questions about parliamentary etiquette and at the same time deepened the already existing rift between the BJP and Congress. As both political bodies continue to trade accusations, it is expected that the scandal will greatly impact political debates in the coming days.

The medical condition of Pratap Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput is stated to be critical but stable. Presently, investigations into the incident are under way, and both parties demand swift and impartial action. The incident of altercations within the Parliament depicts the growing Indian political animosity as BJP and Congress try to gain political capital out of the incident in the form of constituency agitation. While the country is awaiting the outcome of probes, it is increasingly realizing the need for constructive dialogue and paying respect to democratic institutions.