The Bharatiya Janata Party demanded an apology from Sonia Gandhi after Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury addressed President Droupadi Murmu as ‘rashtrapatni’
A major verbal duel broke out between interim Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Union minister Smriti Irani following Lok Sabha MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury’s comments on President Droupadi Murmu, with Gandhi demanding that her name should not be dragged into the row over the leader of opposition’s statements.
The Bharatiya Janata Party demanded an apology from Gandhi after Chowdhury addressed President Murmu as ‘rashtrapatni’. The uproar forced the Lok Sabha to be adjourned till 4 pm.
According to people who witnessed the verbal exchange between the two leaders, Gandhi approached BJP MP Rama Devi to explain that Chowdhury had already apologised for his remarks and that the BJP should not drag her name into the controversy. The BJP, however, insisted that the Congress chief apologise for her MP’s remarks.
“Just as she was returning, a group of BJP women MPs, including Smriti Irani, shouted at her and said that she should also apologise for the remarks against the President… At that point, Gandhi told Irani not to speak to her,” said a person present during the exchange.
