Mallikarjun Kharge Challenges Anurag Thakur to Prove Allegations or Resign

New Delhi, April 3, 2025: Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Congress president, Mallikarjun Kharge, on Thursday strongly rebutted allegations made against him by BJP MP Anurag Thakur in the Lok Sabha, calling them baseless and defamatory.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha, Mr. Kharge asserted that the remarks had tarnished his reputation and demanded that Mr. Thakur either prove his claims or resign from Parliament.

Kharge Demands Apology

During his address, Mr. Kharge revealed that the BJP MP was forced to withdraw his remarks, made during a debate on the Waqf Bill, after being challenged by Congress members. However, he insisted that the damage had already been done, as the comments had circulated widely in the media and on social media platforms.

“Yesterday, Anurag Thakur hurled completely false and baseless charges at me in the Lok Sabha. When my colleagues challenged him, he was compelled to withdraw his defamatory remarks. But the damage has been done,” Mr. Kharge stated.

He also called for an apology from both Mr. Thakur and the Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha, BJP president J.P. Nadda, over the issue.

Calls for Resignation

Emphasizing the gravity of the matter, Mr. Kharge declared that if Mr. Thakur could not substantiate his claims, he had no right to remain in Parliament and should resign. “If the allegations are proved, I will resign,” he added.

Following Mr. Kharge’s speech, opposition members staged a walkout in protest.

The controversy has further intensified the ongoing political battle between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress, with demands for accountability and ethical parliamentary conduct taking center stage.