– Radiance News Service
On September 21, 2023, during the special session of Lok Sabha in India’s new parliament building, BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri frequently hurled communal slurs and abuse against BSP MP Danish Ali. The ugliness of language and meaning, unvarnished bigotry and prejudice, and offensive hate speech by an elected lawmaker on the House floor are all on full display for the nation. Bidhuri’s rant not only offended his intended target, a ‘Muslim’ MP, but also the institution of Parliament and the trust of the people who voted for him and gave him the authority to speak on their behalf.
In response to this shocking incident, JIH National Secretary, KK Suhail, stated, “The appalling, offensive, and filthy language used by BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri against BSP MP Kunwar Danish Ali in the Lok Sabha has outraged every civilized Indian. It has also diminished the standard and dignity of Parliament. Employing racial slurs against a Member of Parliament by targeting his religious identity and using expletives like ‘Mulla,’ ‘Atankwadi,’ and ‘Katve’ to humiliate and berate him is not only shocking and distasteful but also criminal. While it is reassuring to know that Bidhuri’s disparaging remarks have been expunged from the record books.”
Suhail also mentioned the comments of the Speaker of the Lower House, who warned Bidhuri of strict action if such behavior was repeated. He also quoted the remarks made by the Defense Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh, who said, “I express regret if the opposition is hurt by the remarks made by the member.”
Furthermore, Suhail stated that JIH believes Bidhuri’s actions on the floor of the Lower House are not merely a misdemeanor that can be excused with a slight rebuke. It is a grave violation of the dignity of a parliamentarian, amounting to a hate crime, as the offensive words are employed by criminals and anti-social elements to denigrate members of a particular religious community.
Additionally, it is a natural outcome of the sustained narrow jingoistic ultra-nationalism practiced by those in power, which thrives on the othering of citizens such as Kukis, Muslims, Dalits, and Adivasis. This incident exposes the blatant Islamophobia breeding within many members of the ruling dispensation. MPs are meant to be role models for citizens, and if this crime goes unpunished, it will send the message that such actions are becoming normalized. It will embolden others with similar depravity and undermine our long-cherished ideals and values of mutual respect and tolerance, he said.
In response to these developments, JIH demands that Bidhuri be disqualified as an MP, and the BJP should also dismiss him from the party. Anything less would tarnish the image of Indian democracy and its commitment to upholding democratic values.
