Modi supports Anurag Thakur caste census speech
The Congress said that by supporting the speech, Prime Minister Modi has ‘incited a serious violation of parliamentary privilege.‘ Prime Minister Narendra Modi backed former Union minister Anurag Thakur’s speech in the Lok Sabha on caste census and praised his fellow BJP MP for ‘exposing’ the opposition India faction through a ‘perfect mix of facts and humour’.
This speech by my young and energetic colleague Shri Anurag Thakur is a must-listen. A great mix of facts and humour, exposing the dirty politics of the Indi alliance, PM Modi said on Twitter earlier on Tuesday evening.
The Prime Minister gave this support after the Congress, which leads the opposition alliance, objected to Thakur’s speech and asked whether the address was given ‘at the behest of the Prime Minister’.
The grand old party’s primary objection was to the BJP leader’s alleged asking what Gandhi’s caste was, while the BJP leader had not named anyone, a fact he had pointed out.
Those who do not know their caste talk about caste census. I would like to remind the Speaker that in this very House former Prime Minister RG-1 opposed reservation for OBCs,” Thakur began the conversation, possibly referring to Rahul’s father Rajiv Gandhi. Reacting sharply to the former minister ‘inquiring’ about his caste, the former Congress chief, who has been vocal in his demand for a nationwide caste census, accused Thakur of ‘insulting’ him.
PM praises Anurag Thakur’s speech
You can insult me as much as you want, but we (India) will pass the caste census in this Parliament,” Gandhi said. Anyone who raises the issues of Adivasis, Dalits and backwards is abused. I will happily accept these abuses. Anurag Thakur has abused and insulted me. But I don’t want any apology from him,” the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha said.
The caste census was one of the key promises of the Congress party in the 2024 general elections. Ahead of the polls, Rahul Gandhi had described the process as ‘X-ray of India’. Anurag Thakur launched a scathing attack on Rahul Gandhi for his “Chakravyuh” jibe at the BJP-led government a day earlier and alleged that the former Congress chief misunderstood his position as the leader of the opposition as propaganda.
Thakur also alleged that the definition of OBC for the Congress is “only brotherhood commission” and not OBC. He also highlighted former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi’s opposition to reservation for OBCs. Without taking names, Thakur said some people are “accidental Hindus” and their knowledge of Mahabharata is also accidental.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused BJP MP Anurag Thakur of “insulting and abusing” him. The controversy started when Thakur hit back, saying, “The one who does not know the caste is talking about census.
Prime Minister Modi praised Anurag Thakur’s speech and said it is a must listen. “This speech of my young and energetic colleague Anurag Thakur is a must listen. A fine blend of facts and humour, which exposes the dirty politics of the indie alliance.
Chairman promised to remove the objectionable portion: Jairam Ramesh
After protests from the opposition benches, Chairman Jagdambika Pal assured MPs that the comments would be removed (34:40). In a departure from all parliamentary norms – the removed comments are edited from videos uploaded online – Sansad TV uploaded the speech unedited, and the non-organic Prime Minister has publicly shared and praised it.
What did Anurag say?
Anurag Thakur launched several attacks on Rahul Gandhi in his over 45-minute-long speech in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. Speaking on the issue of caste census in Parliament, Thakur said, “Jiski Jati pata nahi hai, woh Census ki baat kar raha hai.
Conclusion
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday praised BJP leader Anurag Thakur’s speech in the Lok Sabha, in which the former Union minister gave a political reply to Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi’s speech. PM Modi described Thakur’s speech as a “must listen”.
Sharing an excerpt of Anurag Thakur’s speech on microblogging site Twitter, the Prime Minister wrote, “This speech by my young and dynamic colleague Shri Anurag Thakur is a must listen. A perfect blend of facts and humour, which exposes the dirty politics of the indie alliance.
