Furore in Parliament over Congress MP's 'Rashtrapatni' remark on President Murmu: Key developments

NEW DELHI: Parliament on Thursday saw an uproar following Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury's "derogatory" remark against President Droupadi Murmu. The BJP has sought apology from the Congress over the "Rashtrapatni" comment, and termed it "demeaning".
Union minister Smriti Irani lashed out at Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi in Lok Sabha claiming she had sanctioned the "humiliation" of Murmu. While Sonia said Adhir Ranjan had already apologised for his remark, the latter claimed the comment he passed on the President was a mere "slip of tongue".
3 more MPs suspended from Rajya Sabha
Three more MPS, two from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and one Independent, were on Thursday suspended from the Rajya Sabha for the remainder of this week on charges of disrupting the proceedings of the House.
Those suspended from the House are AAP MP Sushil Kumar Gupta and Sandeep Kumar Pathak as well as independent MP Ajit Kumar Bhuyan.
With this move, the total number of MPs suspended from the Rajya Sabha since Tuesday reached to 23. Overall, the number of suspended members from both the Houses rose to 27.
Sonia must apologise for Chowdhury's 'Rashtrapatni' remark: BJP's Patra
BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra on Thursday said Congress president Sonia Gandhi must apologise to the nation over party leader Adhir Ranjan's "derogatory" remark against President Murmu.
BJP members stalled both house of Parliament on Thursday as they protested against Chowdhury, the party's top leader in Lok Sabha, for calling calling Murmu "Rashtrapatni".
Entire country upset over remark on President: Goyal
Union minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday slammed Congress leader Adhir Ranjan for his remark against the President, saying the entire country is upset over it.
"The entire country today is upset over Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury's remark on the President. Congress has been insulting tribal leaders," Goyal, who is the Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha, said.
'Insult to Odisha's daughter': Chaos in assembly
Chaos reigned supreme in the Odisha assembly on Thursday as opposition BJP MLAs protested over Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury's remarks on President Droupadi Murmu. As soon as the House assembled, BJP members trooped into the Well and shouted slogans against the Congress after Chowdhury called Murmu "rashtrapatni".
Lok Sabha adjourned till 4pm
Lok Sabha was adjourned till 4 pm on Thursday amid noisy scenes as BJP members strongly protested against Congress leader Adhir Ranjan referring to President Murmu as 'Rashtrapatni'.
As soon as the House met at 11am, BJP members were up on their feet demanding an apology from Congress president Sonia Gandhi over Chowdhury's remark.
'Deliberate sexist insult': Sitharaman on Adhir Ranjan's remark
Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday demanded an apology from Sonia Gandhi claiming that the controversial remark by Congress MP Adhir Ranjan against President Murmu was a "deliberate sexist insult".
Sitharaman said, "It was a deliberate sexist insult. Sonia Gandhi should apologise to the President of India and the country."
Adhir Ranjan has already apologised: Sonia Gandhi on 'Rashtrapatni' remark
Reacting on the "Rashtrapatni" comment made by Adhir Ranjan, Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi said, he has "already apologised".
BJP MPs protest against Cong leader's remark on President Murmu
Women BJP MPs, including Union ministers, on Thursday held a protest in Parliament complex here against Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury for his remark on President Droupadi Murmu.
Holding placards near gate number one of Parliament House, the MPs, including finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and minister of state for agriculture, Shobha Karandlaje, raised slogans seeking an apology from the Congress leader in the Lok Sabha.
No question of apologising: Adhir Ranjan on 'Rashtrapatni' remark
Adhir Ranjan, however, said that there is no question of apologising as he had mistakenly referred to President Murmu as 'Rashtrapatni'.
He further said that the BJP is deliberately trying to make a mountain out of a molehill.
"There is no question of apologising. I had mistakenly said 'Rashtrapatni', now if you want to hang me for it, then you can...the ruling party, in a deliberate design, trying to make mountain out of a molehill," said Congress Chowdhury on his 'Rashtrapatni' remark.
BJP accuses Congress of 'demeaning' President Murmu
The BJP accused the Congress of "demeaning" President Murmu and demanded its apology after its leader Adhir Ranjan called her "Rashtrapatni".
While demanding an apology from the Congress, Union minister Smriti Irani said Chowdhury used the term knowing well that it demeans Murmu and her office and is against India's values.
"A tribal woman from a poor family who created history is being continuously demeaned by the Congress," she said.
Zero-hour notice in Rajya Sabha
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Kumar Jha on Thursday gave a zero-hour notice in Rajya Sabha to discuss the "progress in the 75 years of independence".
"India is entering its 75th year of independence and it is an important milestone for us as a nation. The journey towards independence was a long-drawn battle and the freedom that we cherish has been defined by many ideals and values," Jha said in a notice to Rajya Sabha Secretary-General.
He further said that as a young democracy, it becomes important to reflect upon the progress that we have made as a sovereign socialist secular democratic republic that aims to secure justice, equality, liberty, and fraternity for its citizens.
' Suspended MPs won't apologise, will continue protest'
Opposition MPs, who were suspended from the Rajya Sabha for disrupting proceedings, continued their protest near the Gandhi statue inside the Parliament complex on Thursday and asserted that there was no question of them apologising for their behaviour.
"There is no question of apologising. We want to have discussions on price rise in Parliament but we were suspended. Our 50-hour-long protest will continue outside," said TMC MP Mausam Noor. Her comment came after Union Minister Pralhad Joshi's statement that suspension can be revoked if Opposition MPs apologise.
Protesting MPs spend night in the open
Braving mosquitoes and the heat, some of the suspended MPs spent the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday beside the Gandhi statue in Parliament complex.
With no permission for a tent granted by the authorities, MPs slept under the sky as a protest against the suspension of 24 MPs, 20 from Rajya Sabha and four Congress members from Lok Sabha.
"50 hour non-stop dharna by Opposition MPs. 21 hours done. 29 hours to go. "Revoke suspension of 24 MPs. Discuss," tweeted TMC Rajya Sabha MP Dwrek O'Brien.
(With inputs from agencies)