The monsoon session of Parliament, which started on a stormy note with the Opposition demanding discussion on inflation and GST, witnessed yet another tense situation in Lok Sabha as Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Union Minister Smriti Irani had a face-off over Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury’s remark on President Droupadi Murmu.
Chowdhury, the leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha, had referred to Murmu as ‘rashtrapatni’ while talking to the media during his party’s protests over a host of issues. The President is called “rashtrapati” in Hindi.
He clarified he never intended to disrespect the President and had inadvertently used a word while talking to the media. He also accused the ruling BJP of making a mountain out of a molehill.
Both houses were adjourned for the day after repeated disruptions. Twenty seven Opposition MPs have been suspended for repeated protests.
On Thursday, after days of protests by the Opposition benches, the ruling party, BJP, too was in protest mode as they demanded an apology from the Congress over Chowdhury’s remarks. The situation turned tense when Sonia Gandhi approached BJP MP Rama Devi to ask why her name was dragged into the controversy when Chowdhury has already apologised. As BJP women MPs, including cabinet minister Smriti Irani, intervened, Gandhi, reportedly, told the minister not to talk to her. As the matter appeared to go out of hand, several Opposition women MPs intervened and escorted Gandhi out amid sloganeering from ruling benches.
BJP leaders said their MPs felt intimidated by Gandhi. “Some of our Lok Sabha MPs felt threatened when Sonia Gandhi came up to our senior leader Rama Devi to find out [what was happening]. When one of our members approached her, she (Sonia Gandhi) said, ‘You don’t talk to me’, putting the MP down in house. Instead of remorse from the highest leader of the Congress, we find greater aggression,” Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said.
However, the Congress targeted the BJP MPs for “heckling” Gandhi. “Today, one of the most senior leaders of India, who is also an elderly lady recovering from Covid19, was attacked. She was subjected to insults by one Union minister and was on the verge of being pushed and injured by the BJP MPs. The brutal heckling, verbal assault and physical intimidation of one of the most dignified ladies of Indian politics Smt. Sonia Gandhi by the BJP was traumatic and sickening. That this assault by the BJP MPs took place inside Parliament reflected the mentality of a mob,” Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said.
Later, BJP deputed a battery of cabinet ministers, who belonged to the tribal community, to attack the Congress for Chowdhury’s remarks.
The BJP demanded that Congress and Sonia Gandhi should apologise to the nation.
“The post is gender-neutral. It is not the issue of Adhir Ranjan alone, the Congress leaders have repeatedly insulted the President. Chowdhury has hurt the nation. The Congress and its president should apologise before the nation,” Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju said.
The law minister added that the comment was not a mistake, but it was deliberate.
Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said the comments of Congress on the President is an insult to tribal women, and the country’s people who believe in democracy. They should apologise to the people.
“He made an insulting comment against women and the tribal community. “Those who cannot respect women, how will they respect Mother India,” MoS for Health and Family Welfare Bharati Pawar said.