Himachal Congress stages demonstration against Anurag Thakur over allegations against Kharge

ANI April 5, 2025 134 views

The Himachal Pradesh Congress has launched a strong defense of party chief Mallikarjun Kharge after BJP MP Anurag Thakur made controversial allegations in Parliament. Led by state Congress president Pratibha Virbhadra Singh, the party staged a demonstration condemning Thakur's remarks as completely false and defamatory. Kharge himself challenged Thakur to prove his allegations, stating he would resign if they were true, while also demanding an apology from the ruling party. The incident highlights the ongoing political tensions and robust parliamentary debate in India's political landscape.

"I may break, but I will never bow down!" - Mallikarjun Kharge
Shimla, April 4: The Congress unit of Himachal Pradesh Friday staged a demonstration against BJP MP Anurag Thakur over his allegations against party chief Mallikarjun Kharge.

Key Points

1

Pratibha Singh leads protest against BJP MP's controversial remarks

2

Kharge challenges Thakur to prove allegations or resign

3

Congress demands formal apology in parliament

4

Allegations deemed false and damaging to party image

Himachal Pradesh Congress chief Pratibha Virbhadra Singh, who led the protests, condemned Anurag Thakur's remarks made in Lok Sabha and said these were completely false.

The remarks were contested by Congress MPsin Lok Sabha and Kharge also strongly objected to them.

"We strictly oppose Anurag Thakur's remarks," Pratibha Singh told ANI.

Raising the issue in Rajya Sabha, Kharge, who is Leader of Opposition, had said if Anurag Thakur cannot prove his "land grab" allegations, he should resign.

"If the BJP people want to scare me into submission, let me remind them that I may break, but I will never bow down!""I rise in deep anguish. My life has always been an open book, full of struggles and battles, but I have always upheld the highest values in public life. After almost 60 years in politics, I don't deserve this," Kharge said in a post on X.

Kharge pointed out that while Thakur's remarks were later withdrawn in the Lok Sabha, the damage had already been done as media outlets had widely reported them.

"Yesterday, completely false and baseless charges were hurled at me in the Lok Sabha by Anurag Thakur. When he was challenged by my colleague, he was compelled to withdraw his defamatory remarks, but the damage had already been done. All media outlets carried the story, and social media spread it, damaging my image and reputation," Kharge said.

"As a Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and as the Congress President, I am forced to stand up today and condemn Anurag Thakur's wild allegations. I expect an apology from the Leader of the House, as this is the least the ruling party can and must do. If Thakur cannot prove his allegations, he has no right to be in the Parliament and should resign. And if his allegations are proven, I will resign. In my entire life, no one has ever pointed a finger at me in the Assembly!" the Congress Chief said.

Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
Strong words from Kharge ji! It's about time someone stood up to these baseless allegations. Politics should be about real issues, not character assassination. 👏
P
Priya M.
While I support calling out false allegations, I wish our leaders would spend this energy solving actual problems in Himachal. The public deserves better than this back-and-forth.
A
Amit S.
Thakur should either prove his claims or apologize. You can't just throw around serious accusations in Parliament and then withdraw them. Sets a terrible precedent.
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Neha T.
The whole situation is so disappointing. Both sides need to focus on governance instead of mudslinging. We elected them to work for us, not fight personal battles.
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Sanjay P.
Respect for Kharge's dignified response. After 60 years in politics, he deserves better treatment. But I do wonder why Congress didn't demand an immediate apology in Lok Sabha itself?
M
Meena R.
The media plays such a big role in these situations. Once something is said in Parliament, it's everywhere within minutes. Withdrawing statements later doesn't undo the damage. 🤔

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Tags:
Mallikarjun Kharge Anurag Thakur Himachal Pradesh Congress Indian Politics Parliamentary Controversy
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