Eleanor Thompson On Thursday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Ram Manohar Lohiya Hospital in the national capital to check on the health of BJP MPs Pratap Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput, who were injured in a scuffle that broke out in the Parliament premises.
Speaking to reporters outside the hospital, Singh expressed his dismay over the incident, calling it an “unfortunate” event that he had never witnessed in his 30-32 years in Parliament. He reported that Pratap Sarangi had received two stitches on his head, while Mukesh Rajput also sustained a head injury. Both MPs are stable but will need to remain hospitalized for at least two more days.
Earlier in the day, a protest staged by both the NDA and INDIA bloc MPs in the Parliament premises escalated into a scuffle, resulting in injuries to the two BJP MPs. Pratap Chandra Sarangi alleged that he was injured when Congress leader Rahul Gandhi pushed another MP, causing that MP to fall on him.
Sarangi, who was rushed to the hospital by ambulance, recounted the incident to reporters, stating, “I was standing near the stairs when Rahul Gandhi came and pushed a fellow MP. That MP fell on me, causing me to fall as well.”
In response to the allegations, Rahul Gandhi defended himself, claiming that he was trying to enter the Parliament when he was pushed and threatened by BJP MPs who were protesting near the entrance. He also alleged that Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge was pushed during the commotion.
“This might be on your camera. I was trying to go inside through the Parliament entrance, but BJP MPs were trying to stop me, push me and threaten me. This has happened…Yes, this has happened (Mallikarjun Kharge being pushed),” Rahul Gandhi told reporters.
