Ambedkar row: After BJP's Pratap Sarangi, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge says he was pushed to ground

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday claimed he was pushed to the ground by BJP MPs, injuring his knee during protests ouside the Parliament over Amit Shah's comments on Dr BR Ambedkar.

Kharge, 82, said this was not just a personal attack but an attack on the Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha and the Congress President. In a letter addressed to Speaker Om Birla, Kharge said he was pushed by BJP MPs, inflicting an injury on his knees, which have undergone surgery.

The Congress chief urged the speaker to order an inquiry into the incident. Later, he posted on X that BJP MPs were armed with placards with thick sticks and were "made to push and shove to stop the peaceful protest of INDIA alliance MPs"

He added that with "great difficulty, and with support from my colleagues, I limped to the House at 11 am." Kharge's left knee was operated in June 2017 at AIIMS Delhi.

This comes after BJP MP Pratap Sarangi alleged that he was injured after Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi was pushed him. Sarangi said he fell and hurt his head after a person pushed by Rahul fell on him.

BJP also claimed that another MP, Mukesh Rajput, was also "seriously" injured by Rahul. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju slammed Rahul, asking, "how can he use force in Parliament? Have you learnt kung fu to beat other MPs?"

Rahul, however, denied he injured Sarangi or Rajput, claiming Kharge was physically assaulted as they tried to enter the Parliament.