After a court sentenced Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to two years in prison for defamation on Thursday, governing Shiv Sena and BJP MLAs were seen kicking the MP’s poster with their shoes, saying that he insulted Hindutva philosopher V D Savarkar and degraded India abroad.

In the House grounds, Bharat Gogawale of the Shiv Sena and Yogesh Sagar of the BJP were observed kicking a poster containing an image of Rahul Gandhi with their shoes.

Sena-BJP MLAs hit a poster of Rahul Gandhi with their shoes.

Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar launched an investigation into the event after Congress Legislative Party leader Balaaheb Thorat warned that representatives of other parties may face similar situations. In the meantime, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis pledged that such actions will never occur in the state assembly again.

Pratap Sarnaik, an MLA for the Shiv Sena, said that Gandhi insulted Savarkar during his Bharat Jodo Yatra and continues to do so to this day. Sanjay Shirsat, an additional Sena Legislator, stated, “Gandhi must apologize for disrespecting a liberation hero like Savarkar on deliberately.”

Ashish Shelar, a Legislator for the BJP, stated that a resolution must be introduced against Gandhi for insulting India abroad.

While members of the ruling party continued to protest, Narwekar adjourned the House for 10 minutes and then 30 minutes.

As the House had reassembled, Thorat stated that the unparliamentary nature of Gandhi’s protest must be denounced. “Someone is utilizing our leader’s photograph today.” Tomorrow, we can utilize the image of another nation’s leader. The perpetrators of such behavior must be punished severely,” he continued.

Fadnavis, while acknowledging that the demonstration should not have been conducted in such a manner, stated that politicians must be cautious when commenting against freedom fighters. “On behalf of the governing faction, I can tell you that such an occurrence will never occur again. Yet, individuals should choose their words carefully while discussing freedom warriors. No other liberation warrior has endured as many hardships as Savarkar. “It is necessary to denounce the comments used against him,” he continued.

Narwekar assured that the happenings at the House will be checked for any unparliamentary action. If true, he said, action would be done.