BJP vs Congress: Unfolding the heated scuffle between MPs in Parliament in pictures

The political hostility reached a new low on December 19 as rival MPs engaged in screaming matches and physical shoving in the Parliament forecourt. These unprecedented scenes of disorder followed three days of heated debates inside the House on upholding the dignity of B R Ambedkar.

Dressed in blue, a colour associated with B R Ambedkar, INDIA bloc MPs, including the Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, staged a protest in the Parliament premises demanding Union Home Minister Amit Shah's resignation for his remarks related to the chief architect of the Constitution.

On the other hand, BJP-led NDA parliamentarians also carried out a march within Parliament premises, raising slogans and carrying placards demanding an apology from the opposition Congress for allegedly insulting Ambedkar.

The protesting INDIA bloc parliamentarian came face to face with the ruling coalition MPs in front of the Makar Dar of Parliament as the two sides engaged in loud sloganeering in a bid to outdo each other.

A clash between opposition MPs and BJP members inside the Parliament House turned into a pitched battle, leaving two BJP MPs, including, Pratap Chandra Sarangi injured. The BJP accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of pushing a senior parliamentarian, an allegation Gandhi denied and hit back with an accusation against the ruling party.

The clash took place near the Makar Dwar entrance when MPs from the I.N.D.I.A. bloc tried to enter Parliament through an area occupied by BJP MPs holding a protest. Instead of using the empty section of the staircase, the opposition leaders insisted on passing through the protesters, resulting in jostling.

Two BJP MPs-- BJP MP Pratap Chandra Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput were hospitalised with injuries as Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi became the centre of the ruling party’s accusations, including one by a woman MP who said he "misbehaved" with her.

The Congress vehemently denied the charges. However, the NDA leaders filed a police complaint against him for "attempt to murder, physical assault and incitement".

Meanwhile, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also said he was pushed so violently that he lost his balance and sat down. The Congress also filed a complaint against the BJP in the Parliament House police station.