Congress-BJP verbal duel over Droupadi Murmu’s tribal status turns ugly, apology demanded and legal action threatened

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Ajoy Kumar’s remarks about the NDA’s presidential candidate Droupadi Murmu took an ugly turn on Wednesday when he threatened to sue a couple of BJP leaders including the party’s in-charge of national information and technology department Amit Malviya.
It all started with a statement by former Congress MP from Jamshedpur Ajoy Kumar to news agency ANI on Murmu and the opposition’s candidate Yashwant Sinha.
Comparing the two presidential candidates, Kumar said, “It is not about Droupadi Murmu. It is not individual at all. It’s not comparing two candidates. Yashwant Sinha is also a good candidate and Murmu is also a decent person. But she represents a very evil philosophy of India. We should not make Droupadi Murmu ji a symbol of 'Adivasi'. We have President Ram Nath Kovind. Hathras happened. Has he said a word? Continuous atrocities on Scheduled Castes are happening all over India. The condition of Scheduled Castes has become worse.”
The IPS officer-turned-politician further said, “Creating symbols and fooling the people of India is what the Modi government is all about. This is a fight for the soul of the nation and all like-minded parties should vote for Mr Yashwant Sinha.”

BJP leaders took exception to Kumar’s remarks. They came down heavily on the Congress leader.
Union women and child development and minority affairs minister Smriti Irani said in a tweet, “A tribal lady who has devoted her life towards uplifting the downtrodden, exhibited impeccable administrative skills and risen as a role model for millions is today mocked and insulted by the Congress. Congress’ evil philosophy of ‘entitlement’ is once again proven today."

Union tribal affairs minister Arjun Munda said the Congress was frustrated and was having trouble because a person from the tribal section had been nominated for the President's post. “Congress party should apologise to the country for such statements,” he added.
Amit Malviya lashed out at Kumar. In a tweet, he said, “At a time when the NDA, led by PM Modi, has announced Droupadi Murmu, a woman from Adivasi samaj, as its nominee for the President’s office, a move that will significantly empower the tribals, Congress leader calls her evil by association! Just because she is a tribal. Shame.”

BJP functionary from Mumbai Priti Gandhi said, "An honest, hardworking woman who hails from the weakest section of society and has risen the ranks against all odds solely on the basis of her hard work and determination represents an ‘evil philosophy’ as per Congress leader @drajoykumar. The sense of entitlement is appalling!"
Delhi BJP spokesperson Vinit Goenka said, "Shame on @INCIndia @drajoykumar for such comments. While Congress selected controversial candidate #HamidAnsari for vice-president post, BJP has proposed candidates like Dr Abdul Kalam ji, Shri Ram Nath Kovind ji and now Smt Droupadi Murmu ji to give a strong message of equality."
Another Delhi BJP spokesperson Khemchand Sharma said the party strongly condemned Kumar for “insulting” the NDA's presidential candidate and “well-deserving leader” Murmu by saying that she represents an "evil philosophy".
Actor-turned-politician Khushbu Sundar said, "Not surprised at the low mindset of @drajoykumar on making such remarks about President candidate #DroupadiMurmu ji. Dalits and Adivasis are integral part of our nation and should be respected equally. Is this @INCIndia party line? Do I see @RahulGandhi @priyankagandhi condemning it?"
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Jai Hind said Murmu represents a very evil philosophy so she should not be made as a symbol of ‘Adivasi’. "After calling Droupadi ji ‘dummy candidate’ (Puducherry Congress handle) now this! This is how Congress insults India’s first woman tribal president candidate,” he added.
BJP functionary Shazia Ilmi said, "@drajoykumar, did you just call Smt Droupadi ji’s philosophy evil? Is that how (you) look at Adivasis? Isn’t it a matter of pride that we will finally have our first tribal prez and someone as capable and educated as her. Shouldn’t @INCIndia have done it decades ago?"
Jharkhand BJP spokesperson Pratul Shah Deo expressed shock. He said, “How low can Congress stoop? Just because she is a tribal and a lady, you are stooping so low? Insult to all tribals of the nation. Apologise @RahulGandhi."
Ajoy Kumar was at pains to reply to all the BJP leaders who were attacking him. While he called some “liars” and “frauds”, he threatened to sue Amit Malviya and Priti Gandhi for, what he alleged, “doctoring” the original video clip.
Kumar’s complaint was that the BJP leaders snipped his 57-58-second video clip to 10-20 seconds to show a selective part.
To Malviya’s allegation, the Congress leader replied, “Stop lying Mr Malviya. See the byte and get the full byte from ANI. I said Droupadi ji (is) a good person and the issue is not about her but about the poisonous philosophy of the BJP. I stand by it."
He tagged the Congress's handle and party general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh and added, "As usual BJP IT cell cut paste job."
In another tweet, he said, "@amitmalviya, I guess we should meet in court for spreading fake news."
In yet another tweet, he tagged both Malviya and Priti Gandhi and said, "@amitmalviya @MrsGandhi: See you in court. This is the recording. Hear me saying that Droupadi ji is a good person. A lying machine @BJP4indla."

He further attacked Malviya and said, "Mr Malviya, your lies have been exposed. See for yourself @ANI. Shameless Goebbels of the BJP."
To Goenka, Kumar said, "See the whole clip. Shame on you for lying. 57 second clip edited to 17. You frauds."

To Khushbu Sundar, he said, "This is the clip, I know you need to lie to keep bosses happy."

Reacting to Khemchand Sharma's remarks, he said, "Liars don’t have already told your boss I will take him to court for editing a 58-second video and removing the words."

In response to Kumar’s threat to sue her, Priti Gandhi said, “Don’t threaten legal action, @drajoykumar. It is you in fact who will be booked under the SC/ST Act. Stop insulting Dalits and Adivasis and calling them evil just because they subscribe to an ideology different from yours. Get a grip on your elitist mindset!”