A fierce verbal spat broke out between Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and BJP MP Anurag Thakur in the Lok Sabha during a debate on The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026. The controversy erupted after Priyanka Gandhi questioned the government’s choice of experts appointed to a high-powered task force for examination reforms, referring to one member as a “cow urine expert.”
Key Points of the Controversy
1. Priyanka Gandhi’s Remarks
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Addressing the Lok Sabha, Priyanka Gandhi criticized the government’s tendency to form multiple committees to address recurring exam leaks following the National Testing Agency (NTA) crisis.
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She argued that recommendations from past panels, such as the Radhakrishnan Committee, remained unimplemented.
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Without directly naming him, she targeted Professor V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras and member of the newly formed reform panel, pointing to his prior public statements:
“And in this new committee there is an ex-IB chief, owner of an IT company, and there is also a ‘gaumutra’ (cow urine) expert.”
2. The Context Behind the “Gaumutra” Label
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The comment refers to remarks made by Prof. V. Kamakoti in January 2025 during an address in Chennai.
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Prof. Kamakoti advocated for organic farming and indigenous cattle, claiming cow urine possesses antifungal, antibacterial, and digestive properties.
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In response to public criticism, he defended his statements by citing peer-reviewed scientific studies, including a 2021 study published by the ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute in Karnal.
3. Anurag Thakur’s Counterattack
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BJP MP Anurag Thakur strongly condemned Priyanka Gandhi’s remarks, accusing her of insulting a respected academic and scientist.
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Thakur defended Prof. Kamakoti’s credentials, noting his previous leadership on the Advisory Intelligence Task Force.
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Launching a sharp personal attack on both Priyanka Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, Thakur suggested they ought to engage with institutions like the RSS or consume cow urine to improve their mental focus and patriotism.
