‘Insult to Tribals’: PM Modi Slams Sonia Gandhi Over ‘Poor Thing’ Remark on President Murmu

‘Insult to Tribals’: On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined the Congress over Sonia Gandhi calling President Droupadi Murmu a "poor thing", which he said spoke of the arrogance of the "shahi parivaar" and was an affront to 10 crore tribal folks. At a poll rally in the Dwarka area of Delhi, PM Modi said that the President delivered an inspiring speech in Hindi in Parliament, although it was not her mother tongue.

"Droupadi Murmu, who came from a tribal family in the forests of Odisha, has reached such a position today. Her mother tongue is not Hindi, it is Odia, in which she was raised," PM Modi said.

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Referring to the Gandhi family as "shahi parivaar (royal family)", PM Modi said that it was the habit of Congress to insult everyone who progresses from among the poor, Dalits, tribals and OBCs.

"A member of the royal family said that the tribal daughter gave a boring speech. Another member went one step further and called the President a poor thing. This is an insult to the 10 crore tribal brothers and sisters of the country. This is an insult to every poor person of the country," the Prime Minister said.

Tension flared on the Budget Session's very opening day with comments made by former Congress President Sonia Gandhi about President being "very tired" by the end ofher speech in Parliament, while son Rahul Gandhi called it 'boring.'

According to a video clip circulating on social media, Sonia Gandhi was purportedly heard saying: "The President was getting very tired by the end... she could hardly speak; poor thing."

The BJP launched an all-out attack on the Congress over Sonia Gandhi's remarks, saying they were "deeply disrespectful" and also underscored the opposition's "continued disregard" for the President.

"Sonia Gandhi referring to the President as a 'poor thing' demeans the high office and reflects her feudal mindset. This is not the first time the Congress has ridiculed the first tribal woman to hold the highest constitutional office in the country," BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya said in a post on X.

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In defence of her mother, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said Sonia Gandhi respects the President very highly and is very unfortunate that her words have been 'twisted'.

"My mother is a 78-year-old lady. She simply said that 'the President must have been tired reading such a long speech, poor thing'. She fully respects, in fact, she has the utmost respect for her (the President). It is very unfortunate that this kind of thing is twisted by the media," Priyanka Gandhi said while speaking to reporters.

Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate also stood in support of Sonia Gandhi, saying the Congress leader expressed empathy toward the President.

"BJP & Media, Mrs Sonia Gandhi was actually empathising with the President - who got tired by the end of her 59 minute speech. If you guys attended school or college, you would know 'poor lady or poor man' is a figure of speech denoting empathy. Stop being vultures!," Shrinate said in a post on X.

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