Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday accused Congress MPs of engaging in “the most degrading behaviour” in the Lok Sabha, sharing a video of a heated confrontation that unfolded on February 4, the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address.

In the video posted on social media, Rijiju alleged that several women Congress MPs moved towards the Prime Minister’s chair in an attempt to block his entry and confront him directly. He claimed the situation could have escalated into a physical clash had BJP MPs not exercised restraint.

“The Congress Party is proud of the most degrading behaviour by their MPs. If we had not stopped all BJP MPs and allowed the women MPs to confront Congress MPs, it would have led to a very ugly scene,” Rijiju wrote, adding that the ruling party acted to “protect the dignity and sanctity of Parliament”.

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In a separate statement, the minister questioned how such conduct could be justified, saying BJP leadership had issued clear instructions to avoid any physical confrontation despite what he described as provocation from the Opposition.

The footage shows women MPs standing near the prime minister’s designated seat, holding placards and refusing to return to their benches despite repeated appeals. Union ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Giriraj Singh are seen attempting to persuade them to move, urging restraint and decorum.

Rijiju described the episode as an “unprecedented and unparliamentary stand-off” during a key parliamentary debate, warning that the House could have turned into a “battleground” had the situation not been handled carefully.

The confrontation prompted intervention by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Speaking later, Birla said he had advised the Prime Minister not to enter the House to avoid any “unpleasant incident”, citing inputs that some Congress MPs were planning to approach his seat. The Motion of Thanks was eventually passed without Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivering his reply in the Lok Sabha.

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