Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday issued a strong rebuttal to Union Minister and BJP MP Anurag Thakur, daring him to substantiate what he called “baseless and defamatory” claims made during a recent debate on the Waqf Amendment Bill, or else step down from Parliament.
The controversy stems from comments Thakur made in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, in which he alleged misuse of Waqf board properties by Congress leaders. Although his remarks were subsequently expunged from the official parliamentary records, Kharge maintained that the damage had already been done due to their circulation across news and social media platfor
Raising the issue in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday morning, Kharge passionately defended his decades-long political career, stating he had always upheld the highest standards of integrity.
“After nearly 60 years in public service, I do not deserve this kind of slander,” he said. “Completely false and unfounded allegations were thrown at me in the Lok Sabha. My colleagues stood up against it, and Thakur was forced to withdraw his remarks. But by then, the statements had already gone viral.”
Kharge declared that as the Congress president and Leader of the Opposition in the Upper House, he had no choice but to condemn Thakur’s comments publicly. He went on to issue a direct challenge: “If Anurag Thakur can’t prove his charges, he has no business being in Parliament and should resign. If he can prove even a single allegation, I will resign myself.”
Responding specifically to the allegations related to Waqf property, Kharge challenged the BJP to produce any evidence showing that he or any member of his family had illegally occupied Waqf land.
“I am the son of a labourer. From being the president of a Congress block committee, I rose through sheer hard work to become the president of the All India Congress Committee (AICC). No one has ever pointed a finger at me before,” he said, visibly emotional. “These BJP leaders think they can intimidate me. Let me tell them clearly—I may break, but I will never bend.”
Background: Thakur’s Accusations and the Waqf Bill Debate
On Wednesday, during the debate on the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister Anurag Thakur had accused the Congress party of turning Waqf board assets into a political tool for “vote bank politics.” He alleged that the properties, which are meant to benefit the Muslim community, had been misused to build the Congress’s political influence and dubbed them the party’s “vote bank ATM.”
His remarks, though later withdrawn, triggered outrage from opposition leaders.
Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju attempted to respond to Kharge’s statement in the Rajya Sabha, expressing sympathy and stating, “We heard the anguish expressed by the Leader of Opposition. As colleagues, we must maintain mutual respect.” However, opposition MPs interrupted Rijiju and did not allow him to complete his remarks.
The 2012 Karnataka Waqf Scam Report
The controversy has its roots in earlier allegations linked to a 2012 report on the Karnataka Waqf Board scandal. Authored by Anwar Manipaddy, a former vice-president of the BJP in Karnataka, the report accused several Congress leaders—including Kharge—of being involved in large-scale irregularities in the allocation and leasing of Waqf lands.
The report alleged that Waqf properties, including high-value urban plots intended for charitable purposes, were handed out at below-market rates to private entities and influential individuals, resulting in significant financial losses to the Waqf Board. Kharge’s name reportedly came up in connection with alleged misuse of Waqf land in Kalaburagi (formerly Gulbarga), his political bastion.
These allegations resurfaced in October 2024 when opposition MPs boycotted the presentation of the Waqf Amendment Bill in Parliament, citing the Karnataka report as a basis for their protest.
Kharge, at the time and again on Thursday, has categorically denied any wrongdoing, calling the allegations politically motivated and without merit. His supporters, too, have dismissed the accusations as part of a long-standing campaign to tarnish his im
The war of words between the Congress and BJP over the Waqf Bill and corruption allegations has escalated tensions in Parliament. While Kharge has taken a firm stand defending his personal and political integrity, the ruling party has yet to issue an official apology or further clarification on the matter.
As the issue continues to spark sharp reactions from both sides, the episode underscores deepening political polarisation ahead of key legislative debates and possible electoral battles on the horizon.