Punish Bidhuri for unparliamentary language, Danish Ali writes to PM, seeks security for self

“As you must be aware, the situation has significantly worsened since September 21, 2023, and it has cast a shadow over the parliamentary decorum and democratic functioning of our esteemed House… In your capacity as the Leader of the House and the Prime Minister of our great nation, I trust that you would find it deeply concerning that Shri Ramesh Bidhuri, Hon’ble MP, resorted to using unparliamentary and abusive language,” Ali wrote in the letter.

Seeking the PM’s intervention in the matter, Ali said, “…I believe it is your responsibility to ensure the free speech and well-being of all Members of Parliament, irrespective of political affiliations.”

Ali has gone on to request the PM to make a public statement “from your office condemning such behaviour and reaffirming your commitment towards maintaining the highest standards of parliamentary proceedings”.

He said it would go a long way in reassuring the entire country.

“I request that accountability should be fixed at the earliest on the reprehensible conduct of Shri Bidhuri and he should be suitably punished so that no one can repeat such an act ever in the House,” Ali said in the letter.

“Given the escalation in threats, one given by Shri Bidhuri on the floor of the House and subsequent barrage of threats coming from various sources, I implore you to strengthen the security arrangements around me,” he wrote.

Describing the sequence of events that led to the fiasco, Ali claimed that he had objected to Bidhuri using inappropriate language against the PM, following which the BJP MP appeared to have “got rattled and reacted strongly, possibly realising his mistake”.

“He began making highly offensive attacks against me… to divert the attention of the House. In addition to labelling me ‘aatankwadi (terrorist)’ and ‘ugrawadi (extremist)’. Shri Bidhuri displayed a complete disregard for the high decorum of the House, also in the same breath verbally threatened me, stated his intention to confront me outside the House,” he said.

Ali claimed that since the day of the incident, there has been an attempt to spread falsehood about him.

“Members like Shri Nishikant Dubey have even gone as far as to disseminate absolute falsehoods by asserting that I made certain remarks which provoked Shri Bidhuri when it is clear that those remarks were made by Shri Bidhuri during his address,” he said.

Talking about threat to his safety, Ali wrote, “In addition to Shri Bidhuri’s threats to confront me outside Parliament, in a manner more akin to a street altercation than a Parliamentary setting, certain unknown individuals are persistently sending me threatening and menacing messages. These messages, which I suspect are orchestrated, employ not only harsh language but also explicitly threaten my life and physical well-being.”

He also attached copies of the messages with the letter.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has referred the complaints lodged by several MPs on the issue involving Bidhuri’s use of objectionable words against Ali to the Privileges Committee.

Bidhuri’s remarks targeting Ali during a discussion on the success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission last Thursday sparked a furore, with Opposition leaders calling for stringent action against the BJP MP.

Opposition parties have rallied around Ali and targeted the BJP on its MP’s remarks. Several members of the Congress, Trinamool Congress and NCP among others have written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking the strictest action against Bidhuri.