Ramesh Bidhuri’s offensive remarks spark controversy in Lok Sabha session
Ramesh Bidhuri's offensive remarks stir controversy in Lok Sabha session
A significant political controversy erupted due to Ramesh Bidhuri’s alleged offensive remarks towards Bahujan Samaj Party MP Danish Ali during a Lok Sabha discussion on the Chandrayaan-3 mission. Bidhuri, who represents the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), was warned by Speaker Om Birla, who threatened “strict action” should similar behaviour recur. The Speaker has expunged Bidhuri’s comments.
During the same session, Rajnath Singh, the defence minister, expressed regret in the Lok Sabha for the remarks, deeming them “objectionable.” Jairam Ramesh, a senior Congress leader, called for Bidhuri’s suspension from the Lower House of Parliament. Ramesh stated that Bidhuri’s comments were not only an insult to Ali, but to all present members and that they were indicative of the BJP’s intentions.
Rajnath Singh, unaware of the exact content of Bidhuri’s comments, asked the Chair to delete them from the proceedings if they had caused offence to the opposition members. Following Singh’s expression of regret, the Opposition members showed their appreciation by thumping their desks.
K Suresh, a Congress member who was in the Chair, confirmed that he had already instructed officials to expunge the remarks.
Mahua Moitra, a Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP, called on the Speaker to take action against Bidhuri, accusing him of insulting Muslims and OBCs. Moitra claimed that such behaviour was ingrained in the BJP’s culture and questioned the Speaker on what actions he planned to take against Bidhuri.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Pawan Khera criticised Bidhuri’s remarks, stating that Bidhuri had been more respectable during his tenure as an MLA in the Delhi Assembly. Khera suggested that Bidhuri’s behaviour in Parliament was influenced by Modi-Shah.
Sanjay Singh, a senior AAP leader, echoed the demand for strict action against Bidhuri, describing his language as that of a goon and a mafia. Singh saw the insult to Ali as an affront to all opposition MPs and questioned why no action was being taken against Bidhuri.
National Conference leader Omar Abdullah remarked that if Bidhuri had merely referred to ‘terrorist’, they were used to hearing such terms. Abdullah felt that the words used were against the entire Muslim community and expressed his disbelief at how Muslims associated with the BJP could tolerate such behaviour. He claimed that this was indicative of the BJP’s attitudes towards Muslims and that they should feel ashamed.
