Thakur speech: Cong submits privilege motion against PM

New Delhi, Agencies: The row over BJP 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.

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.