Prime Minister Narendra Modi has endorsed Anurag Thakur’s recent speech in the Lok Sabha on the caste census, praising the former Union Minister for his performance. The PM lauded Thakur for presenting “a perfect mix of facts and humour” that he claims exposed the Opposition INDIA bloc’s political manoeuvres.
In his endorsement on X, PM Modi stated, “This speech by my young and energetic colleague, Anurag Thakur is a must-hear. A perfect mix of facts and humour, exposing the dirty politics of the INDI Alliance.”
Thakur’s speech has drawn criticism from the Congress party, which leads the Opposition INDIA bloc. The Congress raised concerns that Thakur’s comments, which included questioning the caste of historical figures like Gandhi, might have been made at the behest of the Prime Minister.
The Congress objected particularly to Thakur’s remark about the caste census, suggesting that it was used to divert attention from his own party’s stance on the issue. Thakur had questioned why some people are debating the caste census when the caste of certain prominent figures remains unspecified, referring to Rajiv Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi’s father.
Rahul Gandhi responded sharply to Thakur’s comments, accusing him of using the issue to insult him personally. “You can insult me as much as you like, but we (INDIA) will pass the caste census in this Parliament,” Gandhi asserted.
He added, “Whoever raises issues about Adivasi, Dalit, and the backward, is abused. I will happily accept these abuses. Anurag Thakur has abused me and insulted me. But I do not want any apology from him.”
The caste census is a central promise of the Congress party for the upcoming 2024 general elections. Rahul Gandhi has characterized the census as an “X-ray of India,” highlighting its significance in understanding social dynamics.
