Anurag Thakur Has No Right To Be in Parliament! Kharge's Thunderous Response

Congress president and Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge came out swinging Thursday, branding BJP MP Anurag Thakur’s allegations against him as "baseless" and a blow to his reputation.

Speaking during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha on April 3, 2025, Kharge demanded Thakur either prove his claims—made during a fiery Lok Sabha debate on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill—or resign from Parliament. "The damage has been done," Kharge declared, slamming the remarks as defamatory even after Thakur was forced to retract them.

The row erupted Wednesday when Thakur, debating the Waqf Bill, accused Kharge of ties to a Karnataka land scam involving Waqf properties, a charge that sparked uproar and was expunged from the record after Congress protests. But Kharge, undeterred, said the smear had already spread across media and social platforms.

"Yesterday, Anurag Thakur hurled completely false charges at me in the Lok Sabha," he told the Upper House. "I condemn his wild allegations. If he cannot prove them, he has no right to be in Parliament—he should resign. If they’re proved, I’ll resign."

Kharge didn’t stop there, calling for an apology from Rajya Sabha Leader of the House J.P. Nadda too, arguing it’s the "very least" the BJP owes him. The opposition, rallying behind him, staged a walkout post-speech, amplifying the clash. With the Waqf Bill now headed to the Rajya Sabha, this showdown signals more fireworks ahead as Kharge dares the BJP to back up its barbs—or back down.