"No greater insult if..." BSP MP Danish Ali demands public statement from PM Modi condemning Bidhuri's conduct

Addressing a press briefing here, the Lok Sabha MP said Prime Minister Modi's "silence", on the incident that happened on the floor of the House on September 21, was "very unfortunate".

"It's been eight days since this incident happened in the Lok Sabha. However, no action has yet been taken(against Ramesh Bidhuri)," Ali said.

The MP, who represents the Muslim community, said he wrote to PM Modi over this incident as the latter is the Leader of the House.

"His silence on the incident that happened on the floor of the House on September 21 is very unfortunate. If a member of his (PM Modi) party, involved in such an incident, is allowed to go scot-free, then there cannot be a greater insult to the country, democracy and the decorum of the Parliament," Ali said.

He also requested Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to expel the leader from the Lower House and also refer the case for further legal process. "We have to set an example," he added.

Bidhuri's rant at the fellow Lok Sabha member, during a discussion on the country's successful lunar landing mission 'Chandrayaan-3, triggered outrage from Opposition leaders, with many demanding his suspension from the Lower House and dismissal from the BJP.

Earlier, on Saturday,BJPMP Nishikant Dubey came out in defence of his fellow party colleague, saying that he was "provoked" into hitting out at the BSP lawmaker after the latter called Prime Minister Narendra Modi "neech".

However, the BSP MP denied the charge saying he could not stoop so low as to make such a comment on the country's Prime Minister.

On Friday, a clutch of Opposition leaders, including those of Congress, NCP, TMC and the DMK, wrote to the Lok Sabha Speaker, demanding that the matter concerning Bidhuri's attack on Ali be sent to the Parliament's Privileges Committee.

Weighing in on the controversy, veteran Congress leader Salman Khurshid, on Saturday, claimed that while the BJP loses little time to have members of other parties suspended from the Parliament at the slightest of excuses, they were taking inordinately long to act against Bidhuri.

TheBJPmight take some action in order for this controversy to go away but the bigger question is, what makes their leaders speak in this manner time and again? This matter came into the spotlight as it happened in the Parliament. They also speak similarly in front of the media. They get Opposition members suspended in no time but seem to be taking too long to act in this matter,"Khurshid said. (ANI)