22-09-2023 : Controversy and outrage have engulfed the Indian political landscape following the use of derogatory and abusive language by BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri against Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MP Kunwar Danish Ali during a session in the Lok Sabha, the Lower House of Parliament.
The contentious remarks made by Bidhuri have been officially expunged from the parliamentary records, but the incident has prompted a stern response from Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Birla has expressed deep concern over the “unparliamentary” language used by Bidhuri, who represents the South Delhi constituency, and has issued a warning that strict action will be taken if such behavior recurs in the future.
This incident unfolded during a discussion on the Chandrayaan 3 mission, taking place on the final day of a special session convened primarily for the passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill.
The derogatory comments made by Bidhuri have elicited strong reactions from various opposition parties, with calls for stringent action against him. In response to the incident, Danish Ali, the aggrieved BSP MP, has written to the Lok Sabha Speaker, describing the comments against him as “heart-breaking.” He has urged that the matter be referred to the Privileges Committee of the House as a means to discipline an experienced member and prevent further harm to the nation’s atmosphere.
In his letter, Ali detailed the offensive language used against him (which has since been expunged) and lamented that this unfortunate incident occurred in the new Parliament building, under Speaker Om Birla’s leadership. He emphasized his identity as a minority member of the nation and an elected Member of Parliament.
BSP chief Mayawati expressed disappointment that despite the Speaker’s strong condemnation of Bidhuri’s comments, the BJP had not taken any action against its MP, describing it as a sad and unfortunate oversight.
Akhilesh Yadav, President of the Samajwadi Party (SP), labeled the indecent manner in which the BJP member addressed Danish Ali as nothing less than a criminal act. He also decried the apparent indifference of some BJP MPs who were seen laughing during the offensive remarks, specifically mentioning former Union Minister Harsh Vardhan, who was seated behind Bidhuri when he made his comments.
Mahua Moitra, a leader of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), condemned the incident, asserting that the use of abusive language against Muslims and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) had become ingrained in the BJP’s culture, with many now viewing it as acceptable.
Omar Abdullah, a leader of the National Conference, strongly criticized the incident and noted that hate against Muslims had been mainstreamed to an unprecedented degree. He also criticized the Speaker for not taking decisive action against Bidhuri, contrasting this with the suspension of opposition MPs for relatively minor offenses.