Sonia Gandhi : While Irani harangued Gandhi in the lower house, the latter retaliated with a strict warning.
New Delhi: The Lower House saw a major showdown between Union Minister Smriti Irani and INC Chief Sonia Gandhi, as the BJP minister called out Congress over Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury’s demeaning remarks over the newly elected president, Droupadi Murmu.
What transpired in the past week during the monsoon session is a mockery of the Parliament by those who constitute it. A member of the Parliament from the INC, Adhir Ranjan Choudhury, called the President of India, “Rashtrapatni” of which the BJP took a note.
Asking incessantly for an apology over the remark, Irani entered into a brawl with Gandhi, alleging that the latter had ensued her party members to mock Madam President.
The BJP claims that Gandhi walked up to MP Rama Devi in the Lower House to ask what her fault was, that is when Irani intervened in the situation. This did not go down well with the Congress president, who was seen retaliating with a brusque “Don’t talk to me.”
The Congress, however, has contended this saying that all Gandhi did was approach Rama Devi in a “dignified manner,” and that she was then heckled and gheraoed by the BJP.
A heated argument between the two lasted for a few minutes, to resolve which, many leaders including TMC MP Mahua Moitra, NCP’s Supriya Sule, BJP’s Pralhad Joshi and Arjun Meghwal intervened.
When the BJP MP Rama Devi was asked what had transpired, she blamed Sonia for talking in a rude tone. She said Gandhi spoke to Smriti Irani angrily, pointing her finger. “Sonia Gandhi’s angry tone started it all,” she said.
However, Congress has a completely different tale to tell. According to Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, has accused Irani of venomous behaviour towards a rather polite Gandhi.
He said, “Sonia Gandhi was talking to a BJP MP, Rama Devi. Smriti Irani came to Sonia Gandhi and spoke abusive words in a very derogatory tone. When Sonia-ji politely told her, ‘I am not talking to you, I am talking to another MP,’ Smriti Irani shouted, ‘You don’t know me, who I am’. MPs of many other parties and Congress MPs are witnesses to this incident.”
Asking if a minister and Member of Parliament could use such words, Ramesh accused Smriti Irani of heckling Gandhi. He tweeted, “Union Minister Smriti Irani behaved indecently and abusively in the Lok Sabha today! But will the speaker condemn it? Are rules only for the Opposition?”
Nirmala Sitharaman, the Union Finance Minister alleged that the INC chief portrayed “greater and greater aggression.” Claiming that BJP MPs were threatened by Gandhi’s approach towards Rama Devi, she said, “Some of our MPs in the Lok Sabha felt very threatened. I didn’t imagine a situation where I would have to say this. Smt Sonia Gandhi came up to one of our very senior members, Rama Devi ji. One of our members approached her and she (Sonia Gandhi) said “you don’t talk to me”, putting the member down in the House.”
What went down between the two ladies in the Parliament, remains a mystery but the Congress have made it a point to accuse Iran of being impolite, where the NDA stands with the latter, in support of her demands of an apology over the “Rashtrapatni” comment.
Adhir Chowdhury has apologised for the comment saying that it was “harmless” and not meant to hurt the sentiments of any.
As the history of Indian Parliament suggests, Ministers of opposition after having lost a battle tend to use words that are inappropriate, not taking into consideration of what could follow.
Loosely using abusive language and toiling around facts, is not what a nation driven by the sentiment of nationalism expects. It is not a time to pick sides, but a moment of retrospection where each of those present in the Parliament should think of their actions, as they represent India.
Mudslinging can be a part of politics and propaganda but it will be better if it is left out of the Parliament!
