A group of BJP MPs on Monday moved a breach of parliamentary privilege notice against Congress MP Sonia Gandhi, alleging use of “derogatory and slanderous words” to describe President Droupadi Murmu as she addressed a joint session of Parliament last week.
In a notice to Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, the BJP MPs said, “The remarks are a clear manifestation of the elitist and anti-tribal mindset of Sonia Gandhi, who is yet to understand the struggle and sensitivity of a tribal poor.”
“It is with deep concern that we highlight this statement… which appears to demean the stature and dignity of the President of India, the highest Constitutional authority of our nation.” Ms Gandhi’s remark, they argued, “in no way get the benefit of parliamentary privileges”, citing a Supreme Court judgement that said abuse of privilege by an MP was “difficult to digest”.
“Furthermore, even the Parliamentary Ethics and Code of Conduct prescribes that no member utter defamatory words against others… this assumes significance when it concerns the President of India, and that too, when spoken about within the Parliamentary premises.”
The remarks, they further argued, were “a clear manifestation of the elitist and anti-tribal mindset of Ms Gandhi, who is yet to understand the struggle and sensitivity of a tribal poor”.
Sonia Gandhi, after President Murmu’s address to a joint sitting of the Parliament, said, “Poor lady, the President was getting very tired by the end. She could hardly speak, poor thing.” BJP members said this statement undermined the stature and dignity of the President, the highest constitutional authority of our nation.
“Such remarks not only undermine the dignity of the office but also violate the sanctity of Parliamentary procedures and conventions,” the letter stated, claiming that Sonia Gandhi’s utterances could in no way get the benefit of parliamentary privileges.
Gandhi’s comment immediately sparked a storm of condemnation from BJP leaders. The Rashtrapati Bhavan also released a statement calling the remark “unacceptable” and saying that Murmu was not tired.
Later, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also attacked the Congress at a rally in Delhi and alleged that Sonia’s comment had insulted tribal communities.“Droupadi Murmu ji has come here from a tribal family. She inspired Parliament today in a wonderful way and gave a speech. But the royal family of Congress has started insulting her”, he added.
BJP chief JP Nadda called the remark “deeply disrespectful” and said the “deliberate use of such words…shows the elitist, anti-poor nature of the Congress’.