Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Former Union Minister Anurag Thakur received praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his recent speech in the Lok Sabha, which included heated exchanges with Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav. Thakur, known for his fiery oratory, was speaking during the debate on Budget 2024.
“This speech by my young and energetic colleague, Shri @ianuragthakur is a must hear. A perfect mix of facts and humor, exposing the dirty politics of the INDI Alliance,” the Prime Minister said, sharing a video of the five-time MP’s address on X.
Thakur, representing Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh, took aim at Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on the Mahabharata, labeling some as “accidental Hindus” with only a superficial knowledge of the epic. Thakur also made a contentious reference to Gandhi’s caste while criticizing the Opposition’s call for a nationwide caste census, sparking significant uproar from the Opposition benches.
Kannauj MP and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav rebuked Thakur for discussing someone’s caste in the House. This confrontation followed an earlier clash between the two leaders over the Agnipath issue. During Yadav’s speech on the Budget, Thakur, a Captain in the territorial army, responded to Yadav’s comments about his military school background, saying Yadav shouldn’t lecture him. Yadav retorted, suggesting Thakur was agitated because he wasn’t included in the third Narendra Modi government’s cabinet.
Rahul Gandhi also responded to Thakur’s personal jibes, insisting he should be allowed to reply as Thakur had insulted him. “You can insult me as much as you want, do it every day. But don’t forget that we (the opposition) will get the Bill (on Caste Census) passed here (in Parliament),” Gandhi asserted.