Facing flak over ‘rashtrapatni’ remark, Adhir says will apologise to President Murmu, not to ‘hypocrites’

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury's remarks came after he held a meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi in her office in Parliament over the issue.

By: Express Web Desk

New Delhi | Updated: July 29, 2022 05:31 AM IST

2 min read

Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury speaks in the Lok Sabha during ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament. (PTI)

Accepting his mistake of referring to President Droupadi Murmu as ‘rashtrapatni’, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury Thursday said he will apologise to the President. He, however, hit out at the BJP, saying he will not apologise to “these pakhandis” (hypocrites).

While acknowledging his mistake, Chowdhury stated that he is a Bengali and is not used to Hindi. He further said the term was used only once by mistake and that he never intended any disrespect to the President.

Also Read | ‘Rashtrapatni’ remark: Lok Sabha witnesses tensed moments as Sonia Gandhi questions BJP MPs

“I inadvertently used the word ‘rashtrapatni’ just once and it was a slip of the tongue. I never meant any disrespect to the President,” he told reporters outside Parliament, a day after making the remark. “What should I do? I said it and realised I uttered a wrong word. I even looked for mediapersons to request them to not focus on it. However, I couldn’t find them.”

The clarification came as the BJP stalled both Houses of Parliament and asked Congress president Sonia Gandhi to apologise to the nation.

Also read | ‘Rashtrapatni’ explained: The controversy over how the President should be addressed

The Congress leader also said that he has sought time from President Murmu on Saturday and will apologise to her if she has been offended by his inadvertent comments. Chowdhury also alleged that the BJP was making a “mountain out of a molehill” over the issue.

Chowdhury’s remarks came after he held a meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi in her office in Parliament over the issue.

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Following the Congress MP’s ‘rashtrapatni’ remark, the BJP Thursday criticised the Congress for “demeaning the women and tribals of India” and demanded an apology from Chowdhury.

(With PTI inputs)

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