The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has strongly condemned Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi’s recent remarks referring to President Droupadi Murmu as a “poor thing.” The BJP accused Congress of displaying an “elitist, anti-poor, and anti-tribal” attitude.
BJP President JP Nadda voiced his disapproval on social media, stating, “I and every BJP Karyakarta strongly condemn the usage of the phrase ‘poor thing’ by Smt. Sonia Gandhi for Honourable President of India, Droupadi Murmu Ji. The deliberate usage of such words shows the elitist, anti-poor and anti-tribal nature of the Congress Party.” He further demanded an unconditional apology from Congress to President Murmu and the tribal communities of India.
Sonia Gandhi’s comments came in response to President Murmu’s speech during the Joint Session of Parliament, where she addressed the nation at the start of the Budget Session. Gandhi remarked, “The President was getting very tired by the end… She could hardly speak, poor thing,” while speaking to reporters.
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra criticized Gandhi’s remarks as inappropriate and emphasized President Murmu’s strength and empowerment. “Sonia Gandhi’s comments were totally inappropriate. She said that during her speech the president was very tired. She called her a poor thing. We want to tell it clearly that the Honourable President is not a poor thing. India is a republic and the world’s largest democracy. The first citizen of this democracy is a woman from a tribal community. That woman is empowered and strong,” Patra stated, underscoring the President’s extensive career and accomplishments.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also condemned the comments, stating, “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.”
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan called the insult “unprecedented,” criticizing both Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi for their remarks. “The kind of words Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi used against the President, I cannot even imagine. What else can be expected from them?” he said.
President Murmu’s speech emphasized the government’s commitment to all-round development, with a focus on transforming India into a “Vikshit Bharat” (developed India). She outlined the government’s “saturation approach” to ensure no one is left behind on this journey, and she highlighted the country’s progress in defense, infrastructure, and healthcare.
In her address, Murmu praised the steps taken by the government towards self-reliance in defense and noted the completion of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link, connecting the country from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. She also highlighted India’s growing metro network, now the third-largest in the world.
