The scuffle between members of the BJP and the Trinamool Congress in Parliament forced two adjournments in the afternoon with the argument continuing outside the House.
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Though the Chair hurriedly adjourned the House for an hour, another altercation broke out while the members were leaving despite senior BJP members, including Union Minister Kalraj Mishra, restraining BJP MP Hari Narayan Rajbhar.
The agitated Trinamool members ran out of the House and staged a protest at the Gandhi statue outside the main building.
When the House met an hour later, Trinamool member Saugata Roy said that while his party’s MPs were agitating against the Railway Budget, “One MP — I am told his name is Hari Narayan Rajbhar — came up as if to hit people; he used filthy language against our leader, he threatened our lady members that he would beat them up.”
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Speaker informed Mr. Rajbhar, who was in the House, remained silent, though other BJP members protested. While Kalyan Banerjee (Trinamool) indicated that the matter had been brought to the notice of the Speaker, BJP leader and environment minister Prakash Javadekar intervened to say, “People have elected this government with a massive mandate. The issue is who has disturbed the House. Those who have disturbed the House are now complaining and even while complaining, they are not maintaining order.”
Even as the House was adjourned immediately thereafter, allegations flew thick and fast between BJP and Trinamool members outside, indicating that the matter was not over yet.
TMC member Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar told reporters that a BJP MP used derogatory language when they were protesting against the Railway Budget.