Cong seeks Anurag's apology for his remarks against Kharge

The Congress today staged a protest in Shimla over 'indecent comments' made by Hamirpur MP Anurag Thakur against All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikarjun Kharge in Parliament during a discussion on the Waqf Board Bill. “We are saddened by the indecent comments made by Anurag Thakur against the senior leader of the Congress. He should stay in his limit, and not make such remarks,” said state Congress president Pratibha Singh. “Until he apologises for his comments, the Congress will continue to protest across the state,” she added.

The HPCC president alleged that the BJP MPs from the state hardly raise issues related to Himachal in Parliament. “When there was a Congress government at the Centre, the Congress MPs would raise the issues of the state in Parliament with the then Prime Minister. But we don’t s see the BJP MPs raising the issues of Himachal in Parliament or with the Prime Minster,” said Pratibha.

Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri accused Anurag of making baseless statements against Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and other prominent Congress leaders just to please his masters. He said that the Congress would not tolerate it. “The BJP does not discuss the burning issues of the country in Parliament. The country's economy is collapsing, unemployment is breaking all records, but these issues are not taken up for discussion,” he added.

PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh and AICC spokesperson Kuldeep Rathore also criticised Anurag for his comments. “The way Anurag has disrespected our senior leaders cannot be tolerated. The people of the state have chosen him to raise the issues and problems of the state with the Centre but it is sad that he is not concerned about the interests of the state,” said Vikramaditya.