 "Union Minister Anurag Thakur")
Anurag Thakur’s remarks related to caste were expunged on Tuesday.
He further equated the incident to the popular Hindi proverb ‘chor ki dhadhi me tinka’ (guilty conscience needs no accuser).
BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari labelled Gandhi as “divider in-chief” whose “master plan to divide the country” has been exposed. “He is the same Rahul Gandhi who used ask the journalist…what is your caste? Ask every individual of the country their caste and when you are asked the same question then you get furious?” Bhandari said.
#WATCH | On BJP MP Anurag Thakur’s remarks in the Lok Sabha, BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari says, “Divider-in-chief Rahul Gandhi whose Rajiv Gandhi Foundation has no Dalit, whose father late Rajiv Gandhi called the OBC community who was demanding reservation, ‘Buddhu’… pic.twitter.com/epv00NCyyn
— ANI (@ANI) July 31, 2024
Anurag Thakur’s controversial speech row explained
Thakur triggered a controversy on Tuesday during his Lok Sabha speech. As he was responding to Rahul Gandhi’s allegations in Parliament, Opposition leaders claimed that his veiled reference to caste was a deliberate attack on Rahul, who is advocating for a caste-based census in the country.
Thakur also labelled Gandhi an “accidental Hindu” and said his speech was based on “borrowed wisdom.” He further stated that Gandhi’s reference to the Mahabharata in his Budget address to the Lok Sabha was based on “accidental knowledge”.
Thakur’s remarks related to caste were expunged. “How dare you ask his caste,” Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav had earlier questioned Thakur.
The remarks have invited strong criticism from INDIA bloc leaders, who demanded Thakur’s apology over the issue. Meanwhile, Gandhi accused the BJP MP from Himachal of abusing and insulting him but said he did not need an apology.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Thakur for his speech. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he said the speech was a “must hear” and “exposed” the INDIA bloc’s “dirty politics.”
Former Union Minister Smriti Irani was also among the party leaders to share the clip on their social media platforms.
First Published: Jul 31 2024 | 4:25 PM IST
