New Delhi: A heated confrontation unfolded on the Parliament premises on Thursday as Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks on Dr. B.R. Ambedkar sparked a political clash between the Opposition and NDA MPs. Both the ruling BJP and the Congress accused each other of misconduct during the altercation.

Amid the chaos, former minister Pratap Chandra Sarangi sustained injuries. The BJP alleged that Rahul Gandhi pushed the senior leader, a claim denied by the Congress MP.

Following the incident, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge urged the Lok Sabha Speaker to initiate an inquiry into what he described as an attempt by BJP MPs to block his entry into Parliament.

The confrontation reportedly began when INDIA bloc MPs attempted to enter Parliament through the area occupied by BJP members protesting, instead of using the open space beside the staircase at the Makar Dwar entrance.

Sarangi, a 69-year-old BJP MP from Balasore, Odisha, suffered an injury to his forehead. BJP MP Nishikant Dubey accused Rahul Gandhi of causing the incident, exclaiming, "Rahul, are you not ashamed? You pushed an elderly member."

Rahul Gandhi, however, refuted the allegations, stating, "They were blocking my way and pushing me. I didn’t push anyone." He briefly checked on Sarangi before walking away. Sarangi was subsequently taken to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital for treatment, where he received stitches for his injuries.

Union ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Pralhad Joshi visited Sarangi in the hospital to assess his condition. Meanwhile, parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju assured that appropriate action would be taken after evaluating the incident.

Congress MPs also met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to file a complaint against BJP MPs, accusing them of unruly behavior and obstructing Rahul Gandhi’s entry into Parliament House. In a letter to the Speaker, Kharge alleged that BJP MPs pushed him, causing him to lose his balance and aggravate his pre-existing knee injuries.

The uproar over the incident led to the adjournment of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, with Opposition MPs demanding an apology from Home Minister Amit Shah for his controversial comments on Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

(With PTI inputs)