New Delhi: Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Friday stirred a major controversy with her remarks on President Droupadi Murmu’s address to the joint session of Parliament, calling the President a “poor thing.”
Speaking to reporters, Sonia Gandhi said, “The President was getting very tired by the end… She could hardly speak, poor thing.” Her comment immediately drew criticism from the ruling BJP, with leaders slamming the Congress leader for what they called a disrespectful remark.
Union minister and BJP president JP Nadda condemned Gandhi’s comment, calling it “deeply disrespectful” and an indication of the opposition’s disregard for the dignity of the highest constitutional office. “Former Congress President Smt Sonia Gandhi’s use of the phrase ‘poor thing’ to refer to the President is deeply disrespectful and underscores the opposition’s continued disregard for the dignity of the highest constitutional office. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident,” Nadda wrote on X.
He further criticized the opposition for mocking the President while she highlighted the government’s achievements. “While the President was highlighting the government’s achievements, the opposition—driven by its feudal mindset—chose instead to mock the empowerment of backward classes and women, a transformation brought about under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership,” Nadda added.
Union minister Kiren Rijiju also condemned the remarks, stating, “I condemn the comments made by Sonia Gandhi and other opposition leaders. Our President, a tribal woman, is not weak… Droupadi Murmu has worked extensively for the country and society and they cannot even imagine the kind of work she has done… They should apologise to her.”
BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya also weighed in on the controversy, calling Gandhi’s comment a reflection of her “feudal mindset.” “Sonia Gandhi referring to the President as a ‘poor thing’ demeans the high office and reflects her feudal mindset. This is not the first time the Congress has ridiculed the first tribal woman to hold the highest constitutional office in the country,” he posted on X.
The controversy over Sonia Gandhi’s comment has sparked a fresh war of words between the Congress and BJP, with both sides accusing each other of undermining the dignity of the President’s office.
