BJP Trains Guns On Congress Over MP’s ‘Rashtrapatni’ Remark

| Updated: 28 July, 2022 1:28 pm IST

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury (in an orange half jacket) claimed his comment was just slip of the tongue

NEW DELHI: Union Minister Smriti Irani, in the presence of Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi, said in the Lok Sabha that Congress not only insulted President Draupadi Murmu but also the great tribal legacy of this country and this insult was sanctioned by Sonia Gandhi.

“Congress party is not able to digest that a poor tribal woman has reached the highest Constitutional post in this country. Since the day her candidature was announced, President Draupadi Murmu has been at the centre of Congress’ hatred,” Irani said.

She added, “Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi sanctioned the humiliation of President Draupadi Murmu. You sanctioned the humiliation of the tribal legacy of this country. Sonia Gandhi sanctioned the humiliation of a woman in the highest Constitutional post. Sonia Gandhi sanctioned the insult of every citizen.”

While talking to reporters on Wednesday, Congress MP from Bengal and leader of the Congress party in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury addressed President Draupadi Murmu as ‘Rashtrapatni’. Even when pointed out by a journalist, he did not retract.

Chowdhury, in a video statement, said, “The President of India, whether it’s from Brahman or tribal community will always remain President for us.”

Chowdhury said that on Wednesday when the media asked him where they were going while protesting, “I told them we were going to Rashtrapati Bhawan to meet the President. Suddenly, once I spoke Rashtrapatni, as we were speaking about the President for last few days.”

He said, “During the briefing at Vijay Chowk once it was misspelt by me and I corrected it. But they (BJP) are creating an issue.”

On Thursday, Chowdhury said that it was a slip of tongue and refused to apologise. He wrote a letter to the Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla asking for his permission to explain his remark.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman protested in Parliament demanding an apology from Chowdhury. Sitharaman said that the sexist insult of President Draupadi Murmu was deliberate and the interim Congress president Sonia Gandhi should apologise to the country.

In response to a media query, Sonia Gandhi had said in the morning, “He (Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury) has already apologised.” But Choudhury had refused to apologise.