Congress complains about 'attempt to assault' party MPs

Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday alleged that BJP members "tried to assault" two Congress MPs - Ravneet Singh Bittu and Gaurav Gogoi - while they were protesting on the Lalit Modi issue in the house, following which they lodged a complaint with Speaker Sumitra Mahajan.

Talking to newspersons here, Kharge said it was the government's responsibility to run the house smoothly but members of the treasury benches had come near the speaker's podium.

He said Congress members were protesting to press demands of the party that include resignation of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje over their alleged help to former IPL chief Lalit Modi and of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan over the Vyapam scam.

"Such protests have been carried out for the past few days but members of the treasury benches came to the well (of the house). There was an attempt to assault two party MPs by members of the ruling party. They were elbowed. An attempt was made to push them. This has happened for the first time," Kharge said.

Stating that they have complained to the speaker, Kharge said there was TV footage available to ascertain facts.

Bharatiya Janata Party members came near the podium when union minister Uma Bharti was about to speak against the Congress protest.

They sought to block Congress members, who were raising slogans and carrying placards, from spreading out in front of the treasury benches.

The Congress members have been protesting in this manner since the start of the session.

The BJP members went back to their seats after Uma Bharti spoke.

Uma Bharti had earlier come near the podium and urged BJP members to join her but Sushma Swaraj asked them to take their seats.

Kharge said BJP members keep highlighting that ruling the National Democratic Alliance has about 330 members in the house while the Congress has 44.

"They have a dictatorial attitude. They want to tell 'we have majority'," he said.

The lower house saw two adjournments in the post-lunch session before being adjourned for the day.