Key Points
Political controversy erupts over controversial remark against first tribal woman President
Multiple BJP leaders strongly criticize Sonia Gandhi's statement
JD(U) calls the comment unparliamentary and demands apology
Union Minister Anupriya Patel condemned the remark and said, "Sonia Gandhi is a very senior leader and has been the former President of Congress and is still a member of Parliament. Using words like 'poor things' for the president is extremely condemnable. Such things are not good coming from the mouth of a senior MP and leader...I condemn it..."
Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh BJP chief Kiran Singh Deo said, "What more can you expect?.. There should be a political sense regarding your remarks on respectable positions, on the First Citizen of the country...He has become an LoP for the first time and he feels that they have formed the government. People of the country don't consider this good. They feel that they would come into news cycles if they made such statements. That is all they want. They have no other work. I condemn this..."
Apart from that JD(U), a major allay of BJP called the statement very unfortunate and condemnable.
JD(U), leader KC Tyagi said, "The statement made by Sonia Gandhi on honourable President Droupadi Murmu is very unfortunate and condemnable. She is the first tribal woman President of India and the unparliamentary statement made by Sonia Gandhi, we condemn it. Sonia Gandhi should take back her words and apologise to President Droupadi Murmu".
BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan said, "Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, with their arrogant remarks, have grievously humiliated our nation's entire tribal community and have deliberately insulted our first tribal woman President. This dynastic entitlement reflects the feudal mindset of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty and the Congress and Nehru-Gandhi dynasty cannot tolerate the fact that somebody like Droupadi Murmu ji, through her sheer dedication, commitment and hard work and coming from humble, simple background, has become the President of India."
"The bottom line is, Congress party and Sonia Gandhi & Rahul Gandhi cannot tolerate a tribal woman sitting as the President of India...Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi should immediately beg for forgiveness of the entire tribal community in our nation and apologise to Droupadi Murmi ji immediately. Congress party has always been anti-tribal, anti-Dalit. This is nothing new to them...," he added.
President Murmu's address kickstarted the Budget Session. Emphasising that the government is working on all-round development, President Murmu said that the country has only one aim which is to become a Vikshit Bharat (developed India) and the government is working with a "saturation approach" so nobody is left in the journey.
