'How Did You Ask...': Anurag Thakur's Comeback After Akhilesh Yadav's Parliament Tirade Over Caste Remark

It is a full blown war of words between the Opposition and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after BJP MP Anurag Thakur’s speech on caste census in Lok Sabha on Tuesday. Reports say the Congress was considering a privilege motion against Thakur. There was uproar in Parliament on Wednesday over Thakur’s remarks.

While Anurag Thakur’s speech was endorsed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav attacked Thakur asking how can they ask someone’s caste.

Thakur posted a sharp rebuttal to Yadav on X (previously Twitter), where he posted a video of the Samajwadi Party MP asking a journalist’s caste and his name. “How did you ask about caste, Akhilesh ji,” read the caption of Thakur’s post.

How Did The Uproar Begin?

The row began during the debate on caste census, a campaign being spearheaded by Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi. The uproar began when Thakur, in his speech, said, “The one whose caste is not known is talking about the census.” The remark was seen as a direct attack on Rahul Gandhi.

Without mentioning names, Thakur said a few people are “accidental Hindus” and their knowledge of the Mahabharat is also accidental.

Gandhi responded to the remark by saying, “Whoever raises the issues of 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.”

He added, “You can insult me as much as you like but we will pass the caste census in Parliament.”

PM Modi Endorses Thakur

Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Thakur’s speech in the Lok Sabha, terming it as “must-hear”.

“This speech by my young and energetic colleague Shri Anurag Thakur is a must hear. A perfect mix of facts and humour, exposing the dirty politics of the INDI Alliance,” PM Modi wrote on X.

Opposition Hits Out

Reacting to Thakur’s remarks, DMK MP Kanimozhi said, “It is unfortunate that a senior leader, who has also been a minister, thinks that caste is important of any human being, leave alone the LoP. This is the example they are going to set for the youth of this country. I am worried about the future of the young people of this country. It is even more saddening that the PM has retweeted that speech and said that everyone should listen to that speech. Is this what they are trying to tell the nation that caste is important?”

Congress MP Manickam Tagore said that Thakur’s remarks show the “arrogance of BJP.” “We all know that Anurag Thakur always thinks in a different way. They have a hierarchical mindset. Rahul Gandhi stands with Dalits, OBCs, minorities. Rahul Gandhi stands for everybody who is oppressed, voiceless. Rahul Gandhi’s reply was very gentle, genuine and decent. He replied that you may insult in whatever terms you want in the House but I will stand for the cause of social justice and we will work for social justice and caste census. As a follow up, I have moved an Adjournment Motion Notice in Parliament because the Census has been delayed,” Tagore said.