Fri Jan 31 10:33:54 UTC 2025: ## Congress MP’s Remark on President Sparks Outrage

**New Delhi** – The Budget Session of Parliament opened to immediate controversy today following a comment made by Congress leader Sonia Gandhi regarding President Droupadi Murmu. After the President’s address to a joint sitting of Parliament, Gandhi, speaking to reporters, expressed concern about the President’s apparent exhaustion, referring to her as a “poor thing.”

This remark has drawn sharp condemnation from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has demanded an unconditional apology. BJP president J.P. Nadda denounced Gandhi’s words as deeply disrespectful and indicative of the opposition’s disregard for the highest constitutional office. He further accused the Congress of mocking the empowerment of marginalized communities and women, achievements he attributed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju and Dharmendra Pradhan echoed the BJP’s outrage, emphasizing President Murmu’s extensive service to the nation and condemning the perceived slight. BJP MP Sukanta Majumdar added that the Congress’s “feudal mindset” couldn’t accept an Adivasi woman as President. He, along with other BJP members, characterized the comment as derogatory and reflective of a class-based bias. The BJP has repeatedly accused the Congress of elitism, citing past instances to support their claims.

President Murmu’s address highlighted the government’s achievements across various sectors, including the economy, aviation, railways, and agriculture, while also acknowledging challenges such as cybercrime and national security threats.

The controversy surrounding Gandhi’s comment overshadows the President’s address and sets a contentious tone for the upcoming Budget Session. The Congress party has yet to respond officially to the BJP’s demands for an apology.

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