Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Apr 18: Former Union Minister Anurag Thakur sharpened his rhetorical edge on Friday with a series of pointed remarks aimed at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, drawing a cheeky parallel between the fate of the Congress-run National Herald newspaper and Gandhi’s political journey.

Speaking with characteristic sarcasm, Thakur quipped, “The Congress keeps trying to launch it, but it never takes off.” He added with a smirk, “I’m not talking about any individual that this may remind you of... I’m here to talk about the National Herald,” making it clear that the punchline had more than one target.

A four-time MP from Himachal Pradesh, Thakur has had several high-profile clashes with Gandhi, both inside and outside the Parliament. Their verbal battles often capture headlines, with Thakur routinely using public platforms to take aim at the Congress scion.

Earlier this month, during a fiery debate on the Waqf Amendment Bill, Thakur rebutted Gandhi’s accusation that China had occupied 4,000 square kilometers of Indian territory. Dismissing the claim, Thakur asserted, “Not an inch of Indian land has been taken. The Prime Minister and the Defence Minister themselves visited the borders to bolster the morale of our soldiers.”

He went on to criticize Gandhi’s actions during the 2017 Doklam standoff, accusing him of fraternizing with Chinese officials rather than standing by Indian troops. “While our soldiers stood guard, he was enjoying Chinese soup with their diplomats,” Thakur remarked.

Thakur also brought up the controversial issue of foreign donations, questioning a reported ?1.35 crore contribution from the Chinese government to the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation. “Which foundation got that money?” he asked, adding fuel to the allegations of Congress’s questionable ties.

The BJP leader didn’t stop there. He revisited historical grievances, slamming former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru for coining the now infamous phrase, “Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai,” which he said paved the way for betrayal by China.

In December 2024, Thakur took another dig at Gandhi during a debate on constitutional values. He mocked Congress leaders for flaunting copies of the Constitution without having read them thoroughly. Holding up a red copy in Parliament — a symbolic gesture often used by Gandhi — Thakur declared that it was this very document that had endured the Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi, hinting at the Congress’s chequered democratic record.

During a heated session in July 2024 on OBC reservations and the caste census, Thakur dubbed Rahul Gandhi the “Leader of Propaganda,” further stoking tensions. “The person asking for a caste census won’t even reveal his own caste,” he jabbed, continuing his pattern of indirect attacks.

He even invoked “RG1” — a thinly veiled reference to former PM Rajiv Gandhi — accusing him of resisting caste-based reservations.

Thakur’s barbs have clearly struck a nerve. Rahul Gandhi, visibly agitated in past exchanges, has demanded time in the House to counter the BJP leader’s broadsides, asserting that no amount of personal insult would deter the push for a caste census.