'No slip of tongue': Kiren Rijiju on Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury remark on President

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury had said that his comment on President Droupadi Murmu - which has drawn wide condemnation - was a slip of tongue.

Published on: Jul 29, 2022, 15:12:09 IST

By HT News Desk | Edited by Swati Bhasin

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Union minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday slammed the Congress’s Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury amid controversy over his comments on President Droupadi Murmu. The Congress leader has drawn wide criticism for his remark on Murmu, India’s first tribal woman president.

(File photo) Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has been criticised for remark on Droupadi Murmu. (ANI)

Chowdhury said the comment - that was labeled as sexist - was a “slip of tongue”. BJP leaders have been protesting the remark since Thursday, in parliament and outside.

“It was not a slip of tongue. If you watch the clip, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury clearly (referred to President Murmu as) 'Rashtrapati' twice, then he corrected himself to say 'Rashtrapatni.' Such matters should not be taken lightly,” Law minister Rijiju was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

“He is an anti-national and anti-tribal person. And how can he trivialise this issue by saying that he can go to the President and seek an apology? Is it that simple? It is condemnable,” the union minister further added.

Amid huge uproar, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Thursday said her party colleague had apologised.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had also said the comment was not a slip of tongue but a deliberate act to insult the President of India. “It is a sexist comment and the Congress leadership should apologise,” she said speaking outside Parliament.

Among others who have sought "apology to India" for Chowdhury's comments are .chief ministers of BJP-ruled states, including Yogi Adityanath, Jairam Thakur, and others.

Reacting to his statement, Chowdhury said he mistakenly said ‘Rashtrapatni’. “...the ruling party in a deliberate design trying to make mountain out of a molehill,” he told media persons.

Droupadi Murmu was sworn in as India's 15th president earlier this week.

(With inputs from ANI)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.