New Delhi, 31 January 2025: Amid controversy over Sonia Gandhi’s reaction to President Droupadi Murmu’s address, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday stated that her mother holds the utmost respect for the President and that her remarks were misrepresented by the media.
“It is very unfortunate that her words have been twisted,” Priyanka Gandhi said, responding to criticism surrounding the issue.
She also dismissed the BJP’s demand for an apology, asserting that the ruling party should instead apologize for “ruining the country.”
Addressing the controversy while leaving Parliament House after a committee meeting, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi defended Sonia Gandhi’s intent. “Both are respected individuals, they are older than us, and it is quite clear that Sonia Gandhi meant no disrespect,” she stated.
During a media interaction following President Droupadi Murmu’s address to Parliament, former Congress President Sonia Gandhi allegedly commented, “The President was getting very tired by the end… She could hardly speak, poor thing.”
This remark has been met with criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has labeled it as elitist and disrespectful towards India’s first tribal President.
BJP National President Jagat Prakash Nadda condemned the comment, stating, “The deliberate usage of such words shows the elitist, anti-poor, and anti-tribal nature of the Congress Party.” He demanded an unconditional apology from the Congress Party to both the President and the tribal communities of India.
In response, the President’s office issued a statement expressing that such comments “clearly hurt the dignity of the high office” and are “unacceptable.”
