NEW DELHI: Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday flatly rejected Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju’s claim that she encouraged Congress MPs who allegedly misbehaved inside Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla’s chamber, calling the allegation a “lie” and asserting that no abuse took place.She said the accusation that she had egged on protesting MPs was “completely false,” adding, “We did not abuse anyone.” Her response came a day after Rijiju alleged that 20–25 Congress MPs had entered the Speaker’s chamber, abused him and threatened the prime minister, even as senior leaders present failed to intervene.“They (the Congress MPs) were egging them on. Had our MPs misbehaved with anyone, our leader would stop them. But their (Congress’) leaders were egging on the MPs to quarrel,” Rijiju had said.On Thursday, the Union minister shared what he described as an “illegal video clip” taken by a Congress MP, showing opposition members in the Speaker’s chamber last week. The MPs had gone there to protest BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s remarks against former prime ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. “This is the illegal video clip taken by a Congress MP when 20-25 Congress MPs entered the Chamber of Hon’ble Speaker, abused him and threatened Honb’le Prime Minister. Our party believes in debate & discussion and never encourages MPs to threaten physically,” Rijiju said in a post accompanying the video.Responding to the charge in the Parliament House complex, Priyanka Gandhi said, “We did not abuse anyone. One or two MPs were agitated, and they expressed it. He also said that I was encouraging them, which is a lie. I was sitting quietly. In the end, I said a few things peacefully to the Speaker,” reported PTI. The exchange marks the latest flashpoint between the ruling BJP and the Congress amid heightened tensions in Parliament. (With inputs from agencies)
