In a new low in the Indian parliamentary traditions, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Ramesh Bidhuri on Thursday abused a fellow MP in the Lok Sabha.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Bidhuri on Thursday called MP Danish Ali "Muslim ugrawadi" (Muslim terrorist), "Bharwa" (pimp), and "katwa" (circumcised).
Ali is a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MP from Uttar Pradesh's Amroha Lok Sabha seat. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla took "serious note" of the objectionable remarks and warned the BJP leader of "strict action" if such behaviour is repeated in the future. The BJP has also issued show cause notice to party MP Ramesh Bidhuri for use of objectionable words against BSP's Danish Ali.
After Bhiduri's remarks surfaced, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed regrets over the "objectionable" remarks. Singh said he had not heard Bhiduri's remarks and urged the Chair to expunge them from the proceedings if they have hurt the opposition members, according to PTI. "I express regret if the opposition is hurt by the remarks made by the member," said Singh, the Deputy Leader of the House.
Congress MP K Suresh, who was in the Chair at the time the remarks were made, said he has ordered the remarks to be expunged from the records, reported PTI.
The clip of Bhiduri's remarks and Former Union Minister Harsh Vardhan has surfaced on social media and is being criticised. People, including politicians, have called for action against Bhiduri and have criticised the Speaker and the BJP for the conduct of Bhiduri.
Responding to the criticism, MP Harsh Vardhan said that his name was being used by "vested political elements on social media" to tarnish his image. "I ask my Muslim friends who are writing against me on social media today, whether they actually believe that I could ever have become party to usage of such derogatory language that would hurt the sensibilities of any one community ? It is a notorious and fabricated story filled with negativity," he said in a post on 'X'.
Meanwhile, MP Danish Ali has written to the Lok Sabha speaker seeking action against Ramesh Bhiduri, calling the incident a “truly heartbreaking for me as a minority member..” He demanded that the matter be referred to a privileges panel and that further inquiry be conducted in the matter.
