The opposition is demanding the suspension of BJP’s South Delhi MP Ramesh Bidhuri after his crude slurs targeting the Muslim community and BSP Amroha MP Kunwar Danish Ali in the Lok Sabha. While Speaker Om Birla has reportedly issued a warning against the BJP MP over the remarks, which have been expunged, the opposition believes it’s not enough. The BJP has also served a notice to Bidhuri.

The incident took place during a discussion on Chandrayaan-3 in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday evening. As Ali and other opposition legislators objected to portions of his speech, Bidhuri made a series of communal and abusive remarks in Hindi, with former Union minister Dr Harshvardhan seen smiling behind him. 

Ali has reportedly written to the Lok Sabha speaker to seek action. “This is most unfortunate and the fact that this happened in the new Parliament and under your leadership as Speaker is truly heartbreaking for me as a minority member of this great nation and an elected member of Parliament,” he wrote. “During the course of his speech he directed the most foul, abusive invectives against me which are part of the record of the Lok Sabha. Among the words he directed against me were ‘bhadwa’ (pimp), ‘katwa’ (circumcised one), ‘Mullah ugravadi’ (Muslim terrorist) ‘atankvadi’ (terrorist) etc.”

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that Bidhuri should be suspended and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s expressions of regret were “insufficient”. 

Addressing the media on Thursday, Danish Ali said that Rajnath Singh expressed regret “in case the statement hurt the MP”. He also hit out at the BJP government’s double standards, comparing the lack of tough action against Bidhuri to the continued suspension of a few opposition MPs for remarks against the prime minister. “If an elected representative like me has to face this in this country today, what will be the situation of the common man?...I hope the Speaker acts…Or else, I will have to consider leaving this House as this can’t be tolerated in a civilised society.” 

The BSP MP said he was called a mullah, the remarks targeted his community as well as the spirit of the country. “What option do I have but to leave the House if a parliamentarian from the treasury benches behaves this way?”

Watch.