Hemang Joshi, a first-time Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Vadodara, Gujarat, received a warm welcome on his arrival at Vadodara airport on Friday evening. The 33-year-old, the youngest MP from Gujarat, was greeted with bouquets by BJP leaders and party workers after a tumultuous Winter Session of Parliament.
Joshi is in the spotlight because of the incident that occurred on Thursday during a scuffle between MPs of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Opposition INDIA bloc on the Parliament premises.
Joshi was seen confronting Opposition members and addressing Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, urging him to “look at the condition” of Balasore BJP MP Pratap Sarangi, who was allegedly injured during the altercation.
Later that day, Joshi lodged a formal complaint against Gandhi at the Parliament Street police station in Delhi. The Delhi Police registered a case against Gandhi under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) related to physical assault and other charges. However, the charge of “attempt to murder,” which Joshi urged to be included, was not filed.
“The Opposition was creating a ruckus over non-issues. This led to a 40% productivity of Parliament. No discussions could be held on the three questions I was slated to ask. It is hurtful as a young parliamentarian,” Joshi said upon his return to Vadodara.
He accused the Opposition of spreading false propaganda using doctored videos and misusing the name of Dr BR Ambedkar. “All this happened because of the ego of one person,” he added, without directly naming Gandhi.
In his complaint to the Delhi Police, Joshi alleged that Gandhi arrived at the Makar Dwar of Parliament at around 10:40 am on Thursday while NDA MPs were staging a “peaceful protest.”
Joshi claimed that Gandhi ignored requests from Parliament security to use the designated path, instead barging toward the protesters with what Joshi described as a “malicious intention to disrupt the protest and physically harm NDA MPs.”
He alleged that Gandhi incited other Opposition MPs to use force, putting the safety of the protesters at risk.
Joshi further claimed that Opposition MPs intentionally pushed Sarangi and Farrukhabad BJP MP Mukesh Rajput, causing them to fall. TDP MP Byreddy Shabari reportedly administered first aid to the injured MPs.
Joshi also alleged that Gandhi and his associates acted with “deliberate, malicious and mala fide intentions.”
The Vadodara MP’s complaint included accusations under sections 109 (abetment of any offence), 115 (abetment of offence punishable with death or imprisonment), 117 (abetment by public servant), 125 (endangering life and personal safety), 131 (use of criminal force), 351 (criminal intimidation) and 3(5) (common intention) of the BNS.
Who is Hemang Joshi?
Joshi, a physiotherapist and human resource management postgraduate from MS University, has been active in BJP politics for years. He previously served as vice-chairman of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation’s school board and worked as an HR manager at a defence start-up in Vadodara.
According to BJP insiders, he maintains close ties with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leaders.
In addition to his political roles, Joshi is the Vadodara president of the Vallabh Youth Organisation (VYO), a spiritual body led by Vrajrajkumar Goswami. He assumed this position after his predecessor, Paresh Shah, was implicated in the Harni boat capsize case, which resulted in the deaths of 14 people, including 12 students.
Joshi’s entry into politics replaced two-time MP Ranjanben Bhatt, representing a constituency previously held by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
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