BJP MP Thakur challenges Rahul to debate

BJP leader Anurag Thakur on Friday threw a challenge to Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi for a debate over demonetisation and said by opposing the move, the Gandhi scion stood for black money hoarders.

“I challenge him for a debate on demonetisation. Let him decide the date, time and place. I am ready,” Thakur, an MP from Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh, told reporters outside parliament.

He was responding to Rahul’s jibe at Modi for not attending the House.

Demanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s participation in the debate over demonetisation in parliament, Rahul said: “Sometimes he laughs, and sometimes he cries outside parliament. The Prime Minister should come to the House and participate in the debate.”

Hitting back at Rahul, Thakur said those questioning Modi’s absence from the House have a very poor track record in parliament.

“Rahul Gandhi’s attendance is 40 per cent in Lok Sabha while other MPs from Uttar Pradesh have recorded 90 per cent presence. One, who has never asked a single question in the House, is raising questions on Prime Minister,” he said.

Thakur also took on Rahul for his jibe at Modi for being emotional twice post demonetisation.

“There is a Prime Minister who gets emotional for the poor as he has experienced it in his childhood days. What Rahul would know about poverty… Sonia Gandhi (Congress President) cried for terrorists when Batla House encounter took place,” Thakur said.

Thakur said that he can’t expect a young leader like Rahul to stand for the corrupt and those who had hoarded black money.