Islamophobic Remarks :
Anurag Thakur is a prominent member of the Lok Sabha representing Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh and a top leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He now serves as the Minister of Youth Affairs, Sports, and Information and Broadcasting. In addition, Thakur held the position of Minister of State for Business and Finance. Despite the BJP’s attempts to disassociate itself from dynastic politics, it is ironic because Thakur is the son of former Himachal Pradesh chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal.
Thakur took the front in the discriminatory Citizenship Bill protest in India, vilifying and dehumanizing Muslims and other activists who staged anti-CAA rallies and marches in Delhi. He publicly said, “Desh ke gaandaron ko, Goli maro saloon ko” (traitors who betray the nation ought to be shot) at an election rally in January 2020. He made this statement while serving in Mr. Modi’s federal cabinet as a minister. The Election Commission of India (ECI) prohibited Thakur from campaigning for three days due to this inflammatory speech.
“When people of Delhi will cast their vote in favor of the lotus (BJP’s poll symbol)… and after the results on February 11 Shaheen Bagh (protest site) will be cleared,” he declared shortly after the ban ended.
One of the most well-known demonstration locations nationwide against the discriminatory Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was Shaheen Bagh, organized by Muslim women. His next remarks were an attempt to divide Delhi voters along religious lines.
When the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) was in power in 2013, Thakur made derogatory and misogynistic comments about numerous Bollywood superstars and referred to Sonia Gandhi, the leader of the grand old party, as a witch.
References :
https://www.thehindu.com/sport/cricket/The-rise-and-fall-of-Anurag-Thakur/article16977833.ece