Irani yelled 'Droupadi Murmu' in Parliament, must apologise to Prez: Congress' Adhir

Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Sunday wrote to Speaker Om Birla demanding an unconditional apology from Union minister Smriti Irani for “lowering the dignity” of the president’s office during her Thursday speech in the lower House. In a letter to Birla, Chowdhury reiterated that the manner in which Irani was taking the name of President Droupadi Murmu was “not proper and in consonance with the status and position” of the president.

“I may like to point out that the manner in which Smt. Smriti Irani was taking the name of Hon'ble Madam President in the House was not proper and in consonance with the status and position of the Hon'ble President. She was yelling 'Droupadi Murmu' repeatedly without prefixing Hon'ble President or Madame or Smt. before the Hon'ble President's name," the letter read.

"This clearly amounts to degrading the stature of the office of the Hon'ble President. Therefore, I demand that Smt. Smriti Irani may tender unconditional apology to the Hon'ble President for her disrespectful remarks and for lowering the dignity and stature of the Hon'ble President's office,” it added.

A major controversy erupted earlier this week after Chowdhury, speaking to a news channel, addressed Murmu as ‘Rashtrapatni’. BJP MP Smriti Irani launched a scathing attack on Congress president Sonia Gandhi, alleging that she “sanctioned the humiliation” of the president.

"Sonia Gandhi, you sanctioned the humiliation of Droupadi Murmu. Sonia ji sanctioned the humiliation of a woman in the highest constitutional post. Sonia ji sanctioned the humiliation of a poor woman who ascends to the highest Office in this country. You sanctioned the insult of every Indian citizen. You through your male Congress workers and leaders continue to demean the Office of the President of India. Apologise to the nation. Sonia Gandhi, apologise to the tribal, poor and woman of the country," Irani said.

Chowdhury had earlier demanded Irani’s address to be expunged from the proceedings of the House citing similar reasons.