Anurag Thakur vs Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha as ‘chakravyuh’ jibe, caste census become points of contention

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi had attacked the Union Budget, comparing it to the “Chakravyuh of the Mahabharata where Abhimanyu was trapped and killed”.

By: Express Web Desk

New Delhi | Updated: July 30, 2024 10:29 PM IST

3 min read

rahul gandhi vs anurag thakur in lok sabha

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi (R) and BJP MP Anurag Thakur are seen speaking in the Parliament. (PTI)

BJP leader Anurag Thakur’s apparent reference to Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s caste during a discussion on the Union Budget in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday triggered an ugly spat between the Opposition and treasury benches.

Gandhi accused Thakur of insulting and abusing him during the debate but asserted that he would not seek any apology from the former Union minister. Questioning the Congress’ stand on caste census, the BJP leader made a jibe on Gandhi’s caste that triggered an uproar and had Congress members trooping into the Well of the Lok Sabha.

“Anurag Thakur insulted me and I don’t want any apology from him. Abuse or insult me as hard as you can but don’t forget we will pass the caste census in this Parliament for sure,” the Leader of the Opposition said.

Launching a scathing attack on Gandhi for his “chakravyuh” jibe at the BJP-led government a day earlier, Thakur cited purported portions from a book authored by Shashi Tharoor to hit out at successive Congress governments since 1947 and alleged the former Congress chief misinterpreted his position of LoP as “leader of propaganda”.

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Gandhi had on Monday attacked the Union Budget, comparing it to the “Chakravyuh of the Mahabharata where Abhimanyu was trapped and killed”. He had said the Union Budget had nothing for farmers, youths, middle class, and Agniveers, and promised that the INDIA bloc will break “government’s Chakravyuh” and ensure MSP legal guarantee, caste census. He had said the ‘chakravyuh’ is also called a ‘padmavyuh‘ for its resemblance to a lotus (BJP’s poll symbol) formation.

Hitting out at Gandhi for his remarks, the Hamirpur MP said one of the synonyms for lotus is Rajiv (the name of Rahul Gandhi’s father and former prime minister). “You linked lotus with violence, does that mean you also link Rajiv with violence?” he asked.

As the Opposition continued its protest against Thakur’s comments, with some MPs trooping into the Well of the Lok Sabha, Gandhi said he does not want an apology as his only focus like the Mahabharat’s Arjun is on the caste census. “Whoever raises issues of the Dalits and backward, has to face abuses… I don’t want any apology,” he said.

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Referring to yet another abbreviation, Thakur went on to allege that for Congress the definition of OBCs is “Only Brother-in-law Commission” instead of Other Backward Classes. He also referred to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi’s opposition to reservation for OBCs. Jagdambika Pal, who was chairing the proceedings, said Thakur’s remarks on caste stand expunged.

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