The Lok Sabha witnessed high drama on Thursday over Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury's remarks referring to President Droupadi Murmu as "rashtrapatni."
Chowdhury's reference to Murmu, India's first tribal President, as "rashtrapatni" triggered a war of words between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi and Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani demanding an apology from Sonia Gandhi in the Lok Sabha.
As the lower house was adjourned after 12 noon amid the raging controversy, Gandhi walked across to the Treasury benches and sought to know from BJP member Rama Devi why she was dragged into the issue.
"Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury had already apologised. What is my fault," Gandhi reportedly asked Rama Devi.
Irani stepped in and was seen gesturing towards Gandhi and apparently protesting against Chowdhury's remark. Gandhi at first tried to ignore Irani's protestations, but soon was seen gesturing towards the minister and speaking angrily.
According to media reports, Irani said to Gandhi, "Madam, may I help you? I took your name."
The Congress leader rebuffed her, saying, “"Don't talk to me."
According to an NDTV report, a Congress leader accused Irani of heckling Sonia Gandhi when she was having a civil conversation with Rama Devi. Irani reportedly told Gandhi,
"How dare you, don't behave like this, this is not your party office..."
Gandhi reportedly replied to Irani, saying "I am not speaking to you."
Confirming the purported exchange of words between Irani and Gandhi, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman claimed that Gandhi told a BJP member not to talk to her. However, the Union minister did not name any BJP leader.
"Instead of tendering an apology, she is misleading by claiming that Adhir Chowdhury has already apologised. Instead of an apology, she is resorting to threats," Sitharaman said referring to the incident in the Lok Sabha chamber.
NCP member Supriya Sule and Trinamool member Aparupa Poddar were seen escorting the Congress president away from the Treasury benches as BJP members flocked around Rama Devi and Gandhi.
Later, Rama Devi told reporters that Gandhi sought to know why her name was dragged into the issue. The BJP MP said she told Gandhi that her fault was that she had selected Chowdhury as the Congress leader in the Lok Sabha.
Later, extending support to Gandhi, TMC MP Mahua Moitra said the 75-year-old leader was "encircled and heckled pack-wolf style".
In a tweet, Moitra said, "Was in Lok Sabha when 75 year old lady senior leader encircled & heckled pack-wolf style when all she did was walk over & speak (masked) to another senior lady panel chairperson. Disgusted to read BJP lies and false version in press."
—With PTI inputs
