Anurag Thakur Seeks Inquiry Against Rahul Gandhi for Controversial Remarks

Anurag Singh Thakur, a Union Minister and Member of Parliament from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has formally initiated a breach of privilege notice against Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition. Thakur's grievance stems from Gandhi's use of the terms 'idiot' and 'andhbhakt' during a Lok Sabha session, prompting Thakur to demand an unconditional apology from Gandhi directed towards both the House and the Union Home Minister. This move highlights the ongoing tensions between the ruling party and the opposition, particularly in the context of parliamentary decorum and respect.

In a notice submitted to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Thakur invoked Rules 222 and 223 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business, requesting that the matter be referred to the Committee of Privileges for a thorough investigation under Rule 227. He also called for the removal of the contentious remarks from the official records, citing Rules 380 and 381. The controversy erupted during a speech by Rahul Gandhi on July 29, 2026, where he allegedly made these remarks while discussing various groups within society. Thakur pointed out that Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju raised immediate objections to Gandhi's language, yet the opposition leader persisted despite warnings from the Chair.

Thakur's notice emphasizes that the terms used by Gandhi are classified as unparliamentary expressions, which have been deemed inappropriate for use in the House by previous Lok Sabha Secretariat compilations. He argued that such remarks breach Rule 352, which prohibits offensive and defamatory language as well as personal attacks that undermine the integrity of individuals. The BJP MP asserted that labeling a segment of the populace as 'idiots' and 'andhbhakts' is not only disrespectful but also undermines the dignity of Parliament, thereby constituting contempt. Furthermore, Thakur accused Gandhi of disregarding multiple directives from the Speaker, which he claims disrupted the parliamentary process. He urged the Speaker to accept the notice, refer it to the Committee of Privileges, and compel Gandhi to issue an unconditional apology to both the House and the Union Home Minister. Thakur has also expressed his willingness to provide official records and video footage of the Lok Sabha debate if required by the Speaker or the Committee, underscoring the seriousness of his allegations.