BJP MPs move privilege notice against Sonia over her 'poor thing' remark on Prez Murmu
BJP members in the Rajya Sabha have moved a notice for breach of privilege against senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi for her “poor thing” reference to President Droupadi Murmu and have sought exemplary action.
In a notice to Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, the BJP MPs said, “The remarks are a clear manifestation of the elitist and anti-tribal mindset of Sonia Gandhi, who is yet to understand the struggle and sensitivity of a tribal poor.”
The statement (of Gandhi), the letter says, is inconsistent with the established rules of conduct and Parliamentary ethics and etiquette, which mandate members to uphold the dignity of constitutional offices and refrain from making disparaging remarks.
“The Parliament being the highest legislative body of our democratic system is entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining decorum, propriety, and respect for constitutional authorities. Any deviation from the standards diminishes the stature of the institution and compromises the trust that the citizens of India place in it. Given the gravity of this issue, we urge you to take cognizance of the matter and initiate appropriate disciplinary action against Sonia Gandhi. Such action is imperative not only to uphold the sanctity of Parliamentary rules but also to reinforce the principles of decorum and mutual respect that are foundational to the effective functioning of our democratic institutions,” the MPs said.
They added that in light of the seriousness of the matter, especially since it concerns the President, “We request that exemplary action for breach of Parliamentary privileges, ethics, and propriety be initiated against Sonia Gandhi for this contemptuous conduct. We hope the matter will be addressed with the urgency and seriousness that it deserves, BJP members added.
The letter, while flagging as derogatory and slanderous the remarks by Sonia Gandhi, demanded strict action.
“We write this with great dismay about certain unparliamentary, derogatory, and demeaning remarks recently made by Sonia Gandhi, a member of Parliament of the Rajya Sabha, against the President of India, which warrant serious consideration and disciplinary action,” the letter added.
Sonia Gandhi, after President Murmu’s address to a joint sitting of the Parliament, said, “Poor lady, the President was getting very tired by the end. She could hardly speak, poor thing.”
BJP members said this statement undermined the stature and dignity of the President, the highest constitutional authority of our nation.
“Such remarks not only undermine the dignity of the office but also violate the sanctity of Parliamentary procedures and conventions,” the letter stated, claiming that Sonia Gandhi’s utterances could in no way get the benefit of parliamentary privileges.