New Delhi: A day after BJP MP and former Union minister Anurag Thakur’s apparent caste jibe at Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, a united Opposition stormed the Well of the House Wednesday, demanding an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Later in the day, Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi moved a privilege motion against Modi for sharing a video of Thakur’s attack on Gandhi, claiming a breach of privilege.
Channi, in his letter to Speaker Om Birla, said “certain objectionable remarks” made by Anurag Thakur were expunged from the proceedings of the House, but the Prime Minister still posted the video of “the whole speech” on X.
Thakur, in a veiled attack on Rahul Gandhi during the question hour of the budget discussion Tuesday, said someone whose caste is unknown is raising the demand for a caste census.
On Wednesday, Opposition leaders disrupted House proceedings, raising slogans such as ‘Pradhan Mantri maafi mango (PM apologise)’ and ‘Modi sarkar hai hai (shame on Modi government)’.
The leaders also reiterated their demand for a caste census and accused the Modi government of not heeding the call in an attempt to deny representation to backward castes.
However, the Speaker blamed the Opposition for “strategically” obstructing the business of the House despite the Congress being allowed to raise every issue as decided in the business advisory committee meetings.
Birla also pulled up Gaurav Gogoi, the Congress deputy leader in the Lok Sabha, for preventing his party’s MP from raising questions in line with the set routine of discussions.
Speaking to the media outside the House later, Gogoi said, “A BJP member mocked our demand for caste census in the House, and that is why the Opposition held protests inside the House.”
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‘Rahul questioned caste of Prime Minister’
“We know that the caste census is a very emotional issue, and many people in India from SC, ST, and OBC communities want it, but their demand was mocked by the BJP yesterday,” Gogoi said.
He added: “It is unfortunate that later in the evening the Prime Minister shared and praised the speech, which insulted Dalits, OBCs and Adivasis. We are here fighting for their right, fighting for the caste census, and that is why we protested.”
In the House, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju charged the Congress with attempting to spread anarchy and violence in the country by talking about caste census day to night.
In a show of support for Thakur’s remarks, Rijiju said, “The Opposition and Rahul Gandhi rally about caste the whole day, night — caste, caste — but when questioned about caste raise issues.”
Rijiju also accused the Congress of attempts to weaken the country’s morale through its statements against the Army and tarnish democracy. Despite the protests, the House would continue to “function as per rules”, he added.
Fielded by the BJP to corner Rahul further, MP Sambit Patra, in a press conference later in the day, said, “You can ask the caste of the country’s journalists, administrative officers, judges and soldiers. During the election campaign, Rahul Gandhi even pointed fingers at our honourable Prime Minister, trying to spread rumours about his caste. So, he can question the caste of India’s Prime Minister, but if someone asks about his caste, he gets offended and goes ‘Mummy, Mummy’ and says ‘I have been insulted’.”
“If asking about caste is an insult, how will the census be conducted? Commenting on caste — if you do it, it is a good deed, and if the public does it, it is a sin — how can this be possible?” he further asked.
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‘Anuraj Thakur wants to become a minister again’
Outside the House, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, who had objected to Thakur questioning Rahul’s caste a day earlier, said Wednesday, “Anurag Thakur is attacking (Rahul) to attract the attention of the government and become a minister again.”
Taking a dig at caste-based discriminatory rituals and Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, Yadav further said, “I can’t forget the day when the CM residence (Lucknow) was washed with ‘Gangajal’ or, that a temple in Kannauj I visited after winning the election was washed after I left. Imagine, when you are talking about reaching the Moon, electrons, Digital India, Vishwa Guru, Amritkaal, Viksit Bharat… and you are washing a temple with Gangajal.”
“As far as the Parliament is concerned, can the BJP ask the caste of any Congress leader or any other persons? I feel that Anurag Thakur has been told that you will be a minister after you get abused 99 times in the House,” he added.
Thakur, however, responded by posting an old video, showing Yadav asking a journalist his caste and name, with the caption, “Jati kaise pooch li Akhilesh jee (how can you ask about caste)”.
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Kanimozhi also criticised Thakur and Modi outside the House, saying, “It’s saddening that the Prime Minister of the country is tweeting the speech of an MP who is asking caste of an MP. What message are we giving to the youth of the country?”
“It is unfortunate that a senior leader, who has also been a minister, thinks that caste is important for any human being, let alone the LoP…. It is even more saddening that the PM has retweeted that speech and said that everyone should listen to that speech. Is this what they are trying to tell the nation that that caste is important?” she further asked.
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Eye on state polls
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi defended Anurag Thakur while attacking Rahul for contradictions in his stand.
“Anurag Thakur did not ask what caste…. He did not name anyone, so why are you taking it upon yourself? Anurag Thakur clarified it on the floor of the House. They (Opposition leaders) need an excuse. The intention is to divert the issue. From Pandit Nehru to Indira Gandhi to Rajiv Gandhi, everybody has opposed reservation for OBCs,” he said, pointing out the Congress’s track record on reservations as Thakur had on Tuesday.
According to sources in the Congress, the Opposition, after getting a taste of success in the Lok Sabha election through the mobilisation of Dalits and backward castes, now are determined to make calls for a caste census louder in the poll-bound states of Maharashtra, Haryana and Jharkhand to consolidate their voter base.
Meanwhile, the BJP’s strategy, according to party insiders, is to demoralise the Opposition by raising the Congress’s track record on OBC reservation.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
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