In a heated parliamentary session, a privilege motion was filed by Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for amplifying controversial remarks by BJP MP Anurag Thakur. The remarks, deemed objectionable and subsequently expunged from the record, targeted the caste of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The Congress accused Modi of encouraging a “serious breach of parliamentary privilege” by sharing the remarks on social media.
Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge and deputy leader Gaurav Gogoi, condemned Thakur’s comments as insensitive, particularly concerning the caste census debate. Kharge criticized the BJP’s perceived hypocrisy, pointing out that several of their leaders had intercaste marriages. Gogoi argued that the remarks insulted Dalits, OBCs, and Adivasis, highlighting the opposition’s support for a caste census.
BJP leaders defended Thakur, questioning why the opposition took offense. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju accused Congress of hypocrisy, asserting that the party frequently inquired about caste issues. Former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai questioned the logic of conducting a caste census without discussing caste. The controversy has sparked a broader debate about caste and politics in India.
