'Tired...poor thing': Sonia Gandhi reacts to President Murmu's Budget speech
What's the story
The Budget Session of Parliament started on a controversial note after Congress MP Sonia Gandhi's comments on President Droupadi Murmu's address. Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Gandhi noted how the president appeared tired toward the end of her speech, saying, "The President was getting very tired by the end... She could hardly speak, poor thing." Her son Rahul Gandhi also joined in the conversation, calling Murmu's address "boring," and "repeating the same thing again and again."
Twitter Post
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#WATCH | Delhi | After the President's address to the Parliament, Congress MP Sonia Gandhi says,"...The President was getting very tired by the end...She could hardly speak, poor thing..." pic.twitter.com/o6cwoeYFdE
— ANI (@ANI) January 31, 2025
BJP's response
BJP criticizes Gandhi's remarks as derogatory
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has slammed the Gandhis' remarks on President Murmu, calling them derogatory. BJP MP Sukanta Majumdar accused the Congress of failing to accept an Adivasi woman as president due to their "zamindaari mindset." He defended Murmu, saying, "Droupadi Murmu belongs to an Adivasi family and now she is the number one citizen of our country and that is not accepted by the Congress's zamindaari mindset."
Yadav's comment
Pappu Yadav describes President as government's 'rubber stamp'
Purnea MP Pappu Yadav also joined the controversy, calling President Murmu a "rubber stamp" of the government. He said, "The President is like a stamp. She just has to read a love letter." Similarly, BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said the remark exposed the "low level of gutter politics and character of the Congress." "The fake Ghandy family cannot tolerate that someone from outside the Gandhi family can occupy high constitutional posts. This insult is an insult to every Indian."
Speech
Budget session in 2 parts
In her address, Murmu emphasized that the Union government's third term is moving at three times the speed of previous governments. She also highlighted the government's landmark decisions on Waqf boards and 'One Nation, One Election,' the expansion of the Ayushman Bharat scheme, and the government's commitment to youth education and job creation. The first part of the Budget Session will continue till February 13, following which both Houses will reassemble on March 10 and adjourn on April 4.