Sonia vs Smriti in LS: How ‘Rashtrapatni’ remark sparked war of words in House

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Sonia vs Smriti in LS: How ‘Rashtrapatni’ remark sparked war of words in House

While the BJP mounted strong protest over demeaning of the President by Congress, it also led to a brief ‘heated exchange’ between Union Minister Smriti Irani & Cong chief Sonia Gandhi.

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July 28, 2022 16:52 IST
Sonia vs Smriti in LS: How ‘Rashtrapatni’ remark sparked war of words in House
Sonia vs Smriti in LS: How ‘Rashtrapatni’ remark sparked war of words in House

New Delhi: Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury’s derogatory reference to President Droupadi Murmu kicked up a major storm and it showed up in the Parliament today, as the treasury & opposition benches engaged in war of words over the ‘Rashtrapatni’ row.

As the House convened for the day, BJP lawmakers protested loudly against Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury’s ‘Rashtrapatni’ remarks and also demanded apology from party chief Sonia Gandhi. BJP members also flashed ‘Sonia Gandhi apologise’ placards while protesting against Congress.

While the BJP mounted strong protest over demeaning of the President by Congress, it also led to a brief ‘heated exchange’ between Union Minister Smriti Irani & Cong chief Sonia Gandhi.

Smriti Irani leading the protests said, “Sonia Gandhi, you sanctioned the humiliation of Droupadi Murmu. Sonia Ji sanctioned humiliation of a woman at the highest constitutional post.”

‘Don’t talk to me’: Sonia to Smriti

As the House witnessed chaos, the Speaker adjourned the House.

While members started exiting the House, Sonia Gandhi walked across the floor of the House to protesting BJP MPs, Rama Devi in particular, and asked “why my name being dragged into it, Adhir has already apologized for it.”

It was then Smriti Irani intervened and said, “Madam, May I help you? I took your name.”

Already irked by protests, Sonia Gandhi gave a curt reply, saying, “don’t talk to me.”

This triggered further slogan-shouting and loud protest in the House. Reports said that NCP’s Supriya Sule and TMC MPs accompanied Sonia Gandhi back to the Opposition camp.

Soon after, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi stepped in to defuse the situation.

Sonia’s reply to media on Adhir’s apology

After the war of words, when Sonia Gandhi was followed by mediaperson, the Congress chief said in a terse reply that Adhir has already apologized.

Nirmala narrates what transpired in House

Minutes later, the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman narrated the incident to mediapersons and said that it was intimidating moment for some BJP MPs as Congress chief spoke in a threatening tone.

Taking objection to Sonia’s outburst in the House, she said that instead of showing remorse, the highest leader of party showed more aggression.


What was controversy by Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury sparked a major controversy with her remarks on India’s first tribal president. She called the President ‘Rashtrapatni’. Both the Houses were adjourned for the day. Though Congress leader initially remained brazen about his remark and refused to apologize for the remark. As the row snowballed into a major issue, dragging Congress chief Sonia Gandhi into the controversy, he offered apology for his wrongful remarks.

However, he maintained that the issue was being overplayed by BJP and he accused the latter of making the issue mountain of a molehill.

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