New Delhi [India], January 31: In a strong response to senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s remarks, the Rashtrapati Bhavan condemned her comments as “unacceptable” and stated that they “clearly hurt the dignity of the high office.” Without directly naming Gandhi, the statement also clarified that President Droupadi Murmu was “not tired at any point” during her address to Parliament, emphasizing that advocating for marginalized communities, women, and farmers could “never be tiring.”
The Rashtrapati Bhavan released a statement following reactions from some Congress leaders regarding President Murmu’s address to the joint session of Parliament. In her comments, Sonia Gandhi had said, “The President was getting very tired by the end…She could hardly speak, poor thing.”
The Rashtrapati Bhavan expressed disappointment over such remarks, stating, “While reacting to the media on the Hon’ble President’s Address to the Parliament, some prominent leaders of the Congress party have made comments that clearly hurt the dignity of the high office, and therefore are unacceptable.” It further added that such comments were “in poor taste, unfortunate, and entirely avoidable.”
The statement also suggested that the leaders might not be familiar with certain idiomatic expressions and discourse in Indian languages, explaining that “nothing could be farther from the truth” and that the President had not shown any signs of fatigue. The President’s office reaffirmed that speaking up for marginalized communities, women, and farmers was a source of strength for her.
This comes after sharp criticism from BJP leaders, with Union Minister Kiren Rijiju demanding an apology from the Congress party. He said, “I condemn the comments made by Sonia Gandhi and other opposition leaders. Our President, a tribal woman, is not weak… Droupadi Murmu has worked extensively for the country and society and they cannot even imagine the kind of work she has done… They should apologise to her.”
In her address, President Murmu highlighted the government’s commitment to all-around development and the vision of a “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India), emphasizing the importance of ensuring that no one is left behind in the journey toward progress. She also lauded the government’s efforts in the defense sector, stressing that India had moved from “Make in India” to “Make for the world.”
Furthermore, President Murmu pointed out the completion of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link project, which will connect Kashmir to Kanyakumari via rail. She also praised India’s metro rail network for surpassing the 1000-kilometer milestone, making India home to the world’s third-largest metro network.