PM Modi encouraging serious breach of parliamentary privilege by sharing Anurag Thakur's speech: Congress

The main opposition party claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promoted the violation of parliamentary privilege. While participating in the discussion on the budget in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, Thakur had said, "The one whose caste is not known, talks about caste census."

Congress members expressed strong objection to this and there was a lot of uproar in the House. Rahul Gandhi said that the former Union Minister has insulted him. This comment of Thakur is still part of the proceedings, although some other parts of his speech have been removed.

Meanwhile,the Prime Minister Modi had praised Anurag Thakur's speech in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday and said that it must be heard.

Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh posted on the social media platform 'X', "In this speech, which the non-biological Prime Minister is calling 'must listen', his MP has said extremely insulting, unconstitutional and condemnable things. By sharing its video, the Prime Minister has encouraged a gross violation of parliamentary privilege." He alleged that former Union Minister Anurag Thakur has further lowered the level of parliamentary dialogue and discussion by asking an MP and Leader of Opposition about his caste.

Ramesh said, "On the protest of the opposition, Chairman Jagdambika Pal assured that those parts of the speech would be removed. The part of the speech removed from the record of Parliament proceedings is edited and uploaded. Sansad TV uploaded the non-edited speech and the non-biological Prime Minister has praised it by sharing it publicly.''

He claimed that this is a new and shameful low in the parliamentary history of India and it reflects the deep-rooted casteism of the BJP, RSS and Narendra Modi.

Congress Deputy Leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi said that the constituents of the opposition coalition 'Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance' (INDIA) on Wednesday protested inside the House against the "insensitive" remarks made by BJP leaders during the discussion on the budget regarding caste census.

This speech that the non-biological Prime Minister calls a ‘must hear’ is a highly abusive and unconstitutional tirade – and by sharing it, he has encouraged a serious breach of Parliamentary privilege. Former Union Minister Anurag Thakur brought Parliamentary discourse to a new… https://t.co/tF75hK1sPd

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) July 31, 2024

Gogoi alleged that the Prime Minister praised the speech in which Dalits, OBCs and Adivasis were insulted.

Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav said that his party has been saying that there is no place for SC, ST, OBC and Muslims in the hearts of BJP people.

He alleged, "They are being insulted in Parliament. We are constantly demanding caste census and the government is constantly denying it. Reservation is being denied under this government." Regarding Thakur's remarks, Yadav said, "We condemn it and will fight against it."

Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Manoj Jha said that Thakur has given proof of his feudal mindset. He said, "The question is not what is the caste of Rahul Gandhi, Tejashwi, but the question is of caste census. By retweeting the speech, the Prime Minister has shown that he cannot rise above 'buffalo, mangalsutra and mujra'."

Congress leader Digvijaya Singh also criticised Thakur and said he did not expect the Prime Minister to support such comments.