Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi has initiated a Privilege Motion against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, criticising him for endorsing the remarks made by BJP MP Anurag Thakur. This development follows controversy over Thakur’s comments in the Lok Sabha that were later expunged from the records.
Channi’s complaint to the Lok Sabha Secretary General highlights that Thakur made several objectionable remarks about Rahul Gandhi, which were subsequently removed from the official record by Congress MP Jagdambika Pal, who was presiding over the session.
Despite these remarks being expunged, Prime Minister Modi tweeted the entire speech, calling it a “must-hear” and a “perfect mix of facts and humour” aimed at exposing what he described as the dirty politics of the INDI Alliance. This action by the Prime Minister has been met with sharp criticism from the Congress, which accuses him of violating parliamentary privilege.
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has condemned Thakur’s speech as a “highly abusive and unconstitutional tirade.” During the Union Budget discussion, Thakur’s comments, which seemed to reference Gandhi’s caste, ignited protests from opposition members.
Thakur had remarked, “The one whose caste is not known is talking about the census,” without naming Gandhi. This prompted a strong reaction from Rahul Gandhi, who accused Thakur of insult but stated that he would not demand an apology. Gandhi insisted that despite the insults, the Congress would push for the passage of the caste census bill in Parliament.
The controversy escalated on Wednesday as the Lok Sabha saw intense scenes. Opposition members, including those from the Congress, DMK, Samajwadi Party, and Shiv Sena (UBT), protested and demanded an apology from Thakur. Their actions led to repeated adjournments of the House as they chanted slogans and moved into the well of the House.
The unfolding drama underscores the tensions between the ruling and opposition parties and highlights the ongoing debates surrounding parliamentary conduct and respect for constitutional norms.
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