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The row over Bharatiya Janata Party MP Anurag Thakur's remarks in Lok Sabha escalated on Wednesday with the Congress submitting a notice to move a privilege motion against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for posting on 'X' a video that allegedly also contained expunged portions of Thakur's speech.
Thakur's remark, during the discussion on the Union Budget on Tuesday, that 'whose caste is not known talks about caste census', triggered an uproar, with the opposition slamming the comment ostensibly directed at Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi as 'insensitive' and 'abusive'.
The Lok Sabha was adjourned till noon amid protests by opposition members over Thakur's remarks in the House and their demand for a caste census.
The BJP hit back at the Congress, saying what was wrong in asking about Gandhi's caste as he had been asking about the caste of others, including government officials, judges, soldiers and even journalists, an apparent reference to the Congress leader's remarks in the past when he batted for caste census.
At the same time, the ruling party stressed that Thakur did not name anyone and wondered why the Leader of Opposition took offence and called it an insult to him.
"You are demanding caste census. If it is an insult to ask about caste in Lok Sabha, how can a caste census be done in the country? How will the enumeration be done?" party MP and national spokesperson Sambit Patra said.
While certain remarks of Thakur were expunged from the proceedings, his apparent reference to Gandhi's caste during the discussion was not.
Charajit Singh Channi, a Dalit MP of the Congress in Lok Sabha, submitted a notice to Speaker Om Birla seeking to move a privilege motion under Rule 222 of the Rules of Procedure against the prime minister.
"I hereby give notice to move a privilege motion under Rule 222 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha against the Prime Minister for having tweeted on 'X' a portion of remarks which were expunged from the proceedings of the House by the Chair," the former Punjab chief minister said in his communication, without elaborating on the remarks.
"The prime minister's tweeting of the remarks which had been expunged from the proceedings of Lok Sabha clearly amounts to a breach of privilege and contempt of the House.
"I, therefore...move a privilege motion against the prime minister and request you to please admit my motion and permit me to move the same. Request that privilege proceedings may be initiated against the prime minister," the Congress leader said.
Official sources said Channi's notice may not make headway.
The notice moved by Channi claimed that PM Modi had shared the expunged comments in Thakur's speech, without mentioning the details.
The sources noted that the Congress members' primary objection during the BJP leader's Tuesday speech was to his remarks apparently questioning the caste identity of Gandhi.
If the Congress' notice of privilege motion is based on this part of the former Union minister's speech, it cannot be valid as that portion was never expunged, they contended.
Terming Thakur's speech on the Budget a 'highly abusive and unconstitutional tirade', the Congress claimed Prime Minister Modi encouraged a 'serious breach of parliamentary privilege' by sharing it on X.
Tagging Modi's post on X, Ramesh said, 'This speech that the non-biological Prime Minister calls a 'must hear' is a highly abusive and unconstitutional tirade -- and by sharing it, he has encouraged a serious breach of Parliamentary privilege.'
The opposition claimed Thakur's speech was an insult to Dalits, Adivasis and OBCs.
Congress' deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi said the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) protested inside the House against the "insensitive and cruel" remarks made by the BJP leaders during a discussion of the Budget with respect to the caste census.
"We know caste census is a very emotional issue and many people in India from the SC, ST and OBC category want the caste census but their demand was mocked by the BJP in Parliament. They were insulted by the BJP in Parliament," Gogoi told reporters outside Parliament.
"The PM praised the speech that insulted the Dalits, OBCs and Adivasis. We are here fighting for their rights and fighting for caste census," he said.
Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav said his party has been saying that 'BJP people have no place in their hearts for SCs, STs, OBCs and Muslims'.
"They are being insulted in Parliament. We have been continuously demanding a caste census and the government is continuously denying it. Reservations are being denied under this government," he alleged.
Hitting out at Thakur for his remarks against Gandhi, Yadav said, "We condemn this and will struggle against this."
Rashtriya Janata Dal's Manoj Jha alleged that Thakur had given proof of his feudal mindset.
However, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said there was nothing wrong in asking the caste of Rahul Gandhi as he keeps doing the same and tries to 'divide the country' on caste lines.
Responding to protests by opposition parties in the Lok Sabha over the remarks of Thakur, the parliamentary affairs minister said Congress leaders keep asking people's caste day in and day out.
"By asking the caste of people, the Congress has conspired to divide the country, and when there was talk about Rahul Gandhi's caste, there was so much protest," he said.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters, Patra also said it is 'surprising' that Gandhi who can ask anybody about their caste in India takes offence when he is asked about his caste.