'Won't bow down': Kharge asks Anurag Thakur to apologize on land grab charges

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge in Rajya Sabha.

A day after Anurag Thakur’s allegation against Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, claiming he grabbed land without permission, the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha asked Thakur to apologise in public for his statements and said that he "won't bow down"..

While speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Kharge said, “I am forced to stand up and condemn Anurag Thakur’s wild allegations. I expect an apology from the Leader of the House. If Anurag Thakur cannot prove his allegation, he has no right to be in Parliament, and he should resign. If it is proved, I will resign. If the BJP wants me to bend by scaring me, I will never bow down. I will break, but will never bow down."

Kharge said that if Thakur can’t bring even one paper to prove his allegations, he should apologize in the House and then tender his resignation.

Taking to X, Kharge said, "I rise in deep anguish. My life has always been an open book, full of struggles and battles, but I have always upheld the highest values in public life. After almost 60 years in politics, I don't deserve this."

BJP , !
I rise in deep anguish. My life has always been an open book, full of struggles and battles, but I have always upheld the highest values in public life. After almost pic.twitter.com/SfykZTnqAY Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) April 3, 2025

"As a Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and as the Congress President, I am forced to stand up today and condemn Shri Anurag Thakur's wild allegations," he added in his post.

Sharing KC Venugopal's statement in the Lok Sabha, in a post on X, Congress stated, "The allegations made by Minister Anurag Thakur against Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge ji, a top leader of this country, are unacceptable."

The allegations made by Minister Anurag Thakur against Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge ji, a top leader of this country, are unacceptable. Kharge ji rose from the grassroots level, faced immense hardship, and gained a lot of experience in public life. The misleading pic.twitter.com/7mSGsUX7b8 Congress (@INCIndia) April 2, 2025

"Kharge ji rose from the grassroots level, faced immense hardship, and gained a lot of experience in public life. The misleading data about him is unacceptable and was deliberately used to malign his reputation. They consistently attack Kharge ji for narrow political gains," the post added.