‘Rashtrapatni’ remark row: NCW seeks explanation from Adhir, writes to Sonia

'Rashtrapatni’ remark row: The National Commission for Women asked the Congress MP to appear before it in person. A hearing in this regard is scheduled to be held on August 3 at 11:30am.

The National Commission for Women on Thursday issued a notice to Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury seeking an explanation for his “rashtrapatni” remark against President Droupadi Murmu. The women's panel asked the Congress leader to appear before it in person. A hearing in this regard is scheduled to be held on August 3 at 11:30am.

File photo of Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.

The NCW also wrote to Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi to intervene in the matter and to take appropriate action against Chowdhury for his remark.

Stating that it was slip of tongue, the Bengal MP has said he would apologise to the President personally as a major controversy erupted over the issue with the BJP stalling both Houses of Parliament demanding Gandhi say sorry to the nation. Chowdhury said he had sought time from the President the day after tomorrow and will apologise to her if she had been offended by his inadvertent comment.

"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. "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," Chowdhury said, a day after making the remark. He later said, "I am a Bengali and not used to Hindi. I made a mistake, I agree."

Meanwhile, a fresh row has erupted over a verbal exchange between Gandhi and BJP MP Smriti Irani in the Lok Sabha, hours after Irani accused the Congress chief of sanctioning the humiliation of Murmu through male party leaders.

(With inputs from agencie)