Opposition Urges LS Speaker For Strict Action Against Ramesh Bidhuri Over Derogatory Remarks

Opposition parties on Saturday demanded Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to take stringent action, including suspension, against BJP's Ramesh Bidhuri over his derogatory remarks against BSP MP Danish Ali in the House.

While the BJP had issued notice to Bidhuri after facing flak over his utterances, the party also hit back at the opposition leaders, alleging they have been making uncouth and objectionable remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his parents.

BJP MP Nishikant urged the Speaker to form an inquiry committee to look into statements made by Ali and members from parties like the TMC and the DMK in Lok Sabha and alleged that the BSP MP made "highly objectionable" remarks against Modi that provoked the ruling party MP.

As Bidhuri's remarks during a discussion on the success of Chandrayaan-3 in the Lok Sabha on Thursday triggered a furore, Ali had said that he could consider quitting the membership of the House if no step is taken. In a letter written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Congress leader and former Maharashtra minister Naseem Khan demanded that Bidhuri be "permanently suspended".

Bidhuri's "shameful" statement is an insult not only to the MP but also to Parliament, the "sanctum sanctorum of our democracy", he said. "It is very unfortunate and disturbing that language which was earlier confined to street debates related to organisations like RSS and VHP has now entered Parliament through BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri," he alleged.

Speaker Birla should send a strong message by effecting immediate "permanent suspension" of Bidhuri, Khan demanded. BRS MLC in Telangana K Kavitha also urged the Lok Sabha Speaker to take stringent action in the matter.

"It's saddening and shocking to hear the disrespectful comments made by MP @rameshbidhuri towards MP Danish Ali Ji in the supreme legislature of our Nation. Such behaviour has no place in our democratic discourse. I request Hon’ble speaker @ombirlakota Ji to take immediate and stringent action," she said on X. Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi demanded Bidhuri's suspension.

"Why has action not been taken till now? By just issuing a warning, you are telling the MPs that you can get away with such a conduct...," she said.

DMK's Thamizhachi Thangapandian said, "When Ramesh Bidhuri made that statement, our party MP Kanimozhi stood up and registered her protest. A letter was written to the Speaker.

However, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey wrote to the Lok Sabha Speaker, accusing Ali of making unsavoury remarks during Bidhuri's speech in the House aimed at instigating him to lose his composure. Dubey alleged that Ali also made a "highly objectionable and blasphemous" remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He used the "neech" barb, the BJP leader claimed, saying it was more than enough for "any patriotic public representative to lose his calm and fall into his trap by uttering unsavoury words."

"But the Lok Sabha Speaker should also probe the unsavoury remarks and conduct of Danish Ali. Under Lok Sabha rules, obstructing another MP during the time allotted to him, speaking while sitting and giving a running commentary also call for punishment," he posted on X.

Meanwhile, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav compared Bidhuri's behaviour to that of "street bullies". The RJD leader also said that he had no hopes of action against Bidhuri since it appears that those in the BJP had the right to indulge in all types of delinquent behaviour.

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal questioned the "silence" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah on the matter. PTI MR SJR NAC KR CHS ASK RT RT RT