Sonia Gandhi and Smriti Irani Argue in Parliament
Several Opposition leaders on Thursday threw their weight behind Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who was involved in a face-off with Union minister Smriti Irani in the Lok Sabha.
The standard title for President in India is the Hindi word Rashtrapati. However, pati translates as "husband”. Droupadi Murmu, a female, has become India’s President. So there is a discussion on how to address her. Usually the female President is addressed in Hindi as Mahila Rashtrapati. However, there has been a huge controversy over a Congress leaders’ statement. In an interview when Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury was talking to the media during his party's protests over various issues, he called Murmu "Rashtrapatni". Patni in Hindi means Wife. Hence the word was incorrect. Chowdhury quickly apologized, saying it was a slip of the tongue. However the BJP wanted an apology from Sonia Gandhi. BJP slammed Congress for the alleged "undignified" remarks about President Droupadi Murmu. BJP leader Smriti Irani in the Lok Sabha said while launching a scathing attack on Gandhi. "Sonia Gandhi approved the humiliation of a woman at the highest constitutional office in the country,"
An irate Irani referred to Gandhi as "anti-Adivasi, anti-Dalit, and anti-woman".
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also led a protest of fellow MPs carrying placards on the Parliament premises against the remarks. Sitharaman branded Chowdhury's comments a "deliberate sexist abuse" Sitharaman said, "I demand an apology from the President of the Congress party who herself is a woman and has allowed her leader to speak like that. Sonia Gandhi should come before the nation and apologize for insulting the President. Meanwhile, Chowdhury accused the BJP of preventing crucial discussions on price rise, GST, the Agnipath scheme, unemployment, and other issues. "They (BJP) are creating a furor because of a mistake, just once and in one word," When all of this was happening, Sonia Gandhi walked across the parliament floor to talk to BJP MP Rama Devi. That’s when they BJP MPs chanted anti-Sonia Gandhi chants. "Sonia Gandhi, apologize," Irani urged in the House, as BJP members held up posters and shouted Sonia Gandhi Maafi maango” . Apparently, Gandhi asked why her name was being dragged into the controversy. Gandhi was seen saying something to Irani, who was then heard asking, “how can you talk to me like this and that she (Sonia Gandhi) is intimidating us.” Following this, Congress leaders rallied behind the party’s president, seeking action against BJP leaders. In her response Sonia Gandhi only said that Chaoudhary has already apologised. She has not said anything about her apology. Meanwhile, 24 members of parliament (MPs) have been suspended for "unruly behavior" in three days. The MPs suspended from Parliament include 20 from the Rajya Sabha and four from Lok Sabha.
