Don’t drag Sonia Gandhi in this: Adhir Chowdhury says will apologise to President for ‘rashtrapatni’ remark

NEW DELHI,JULY 28 : Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, whose ‘Rashtrapatni’ comments sparked a row in Lok Sabha on Thursday, said he will personally meet President Droupani Murmu and apologize if she felt bad.

Adhir also asked why party president Sonia Gandhi was being dragged into the controversy.

 “I can’t even think of insulting the President. It was just a mistake. If the President felt bad, I will personally meet her and apologise. They can hang me if they want to. I am ready to get punished but why is she (Sonia Gandhi) being dragged in this,” the Congress leader said.

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury had earlier referred to President Droupadi Murmu as ‘rashtrapatni’. His remark was criticised by BJP MPs who protested in Parliament on Thursday. Union ministers Smriti Irani and Nirmala Sitharaman were among the BJP leaders who demanded that Congress president Sonia Gandhi should apologise for Chowdhury’s remark.

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said the whole incident was blown out of proportion by the BJP and his remark was the result of a slip of tongue.

Sonia had responded to the BJP leaders and said Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury had already apologised for his remark. According to sources, Sonia told Smriti Irani ‘not to talk to her’ after the Lok Sabha adjourned on Thursday.

-PTI