'Thinking of Leaving Parliament If...': Danish Ali on Bidhuri's Communal Slurs in Lok Sabha

A day after communal slurs like “terrorist” were used against him in Lok Sabha, MP Kunwar Danish Ali said he is considering leaving Parliament if the Speaker does not conduct an inquiry against fellow MP Ramesh Bidhuri of the BJP. The BSP leader said if this was the situation inside the parliament, it can only be imagine what it was like outside. He said he could not sleep all of last night, thinking of the words used against him — mulla ugarwaadi (Muslim terrorist), aatankwaadi (terrorist), bhadwa (pimp).

“When this is the condition of an elected member like me then what will be the condition of a normal person. I hope I will get justice, speaker will conduct an inquiry or else, with a heavy heart, I’m also thinking of leaving this Parliament because this can’t be tolerated. Is this why we are elected, is this why our ancestors sacrificed their lives for freedom? They (BJP) did not only insult me and my followers but the whole nation… now let’s see if BJP is taking any action against Ramesh Bhiduri or he will be promoted and included in the union cabinet… maybe it has become a competition among BJP leaders to make such statements, not just outside but even inside,” the MP said.

Ali on Friday wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, demanding an inquiry and action against the speech given by BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri during a discussion on the success of Chandrayaan-3. “I request you to refer this matter to the committee of privileges under rule 227 of the rules of procedure and conduct of business in Lok Sabha for examination, investigation, and report…” his letter stated.

The MP said he is confident that the Speaker will take cognizance and appropriate action in the incident. “I have issued a notice and all things are on record; for the first time, this kind of language has been used against an elected MP…” he said.

He added: My soul trembled at the thought of what was said to me and I could not sleep at night. I hope I get justice and if I don’t, I am thinking of resigning from the House. I was insulted in the temple of democracy and two former cabinet ministers were laughing at Bidhuri’s statement. If this is not hate speech, then what is it?”

The BJP, meanwhile, has issued a show-cause notice to Bidhuri on instructions of party president JP Nadda for the use of “unparliamentary language” against Ali. The Speaker, however, has purged from record the objectionable remarks made by the BJP MP from South Delhi, for which defence minister Rajnath Singh had to verbally apologise to the opposition in the House.

Mayawati, who is the BSP chief, condemned the incident and said the Speaker had removed the derogatory remarks from record but the party has not yet taken appropriate action against Bidhuri. “It is sad and unfortunate,” she added.

Another person who seems to have been pulled into the controversy is former health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, who was seen grinning while Bidhuri was making the statements directed at Ali. His name is now trending on X (formerly Twitter) following which he issued a statement saying he has been “dragged into this unfortunate incident” and people were using it to “tarnish his image”. He also alleged that both MPs were using unparliamentary language against each other.

He said in his 30 years of public life, he had closely worked with lakhs of Muslim brothers and sisters in his constituency as well as with colleagues from different walks of life. He added that he felt “sad and humiliated” that “some people with vested interests have dragged my name into this”.