Slip Of Tongue! Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge Calls President Murmu As "Murma Ji"

During a speech in Chhattisgarh, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge mistakenly referred to President Droupadi Murmu as "Murma ji" and later mispronounced former President Ram Nath Kovind's name as "Covid." These errors led to criticism from the BJP, who accused Kharge of having an anti-Dalit mindset. The BJP argued that the Congress prioritises dynastic welfare over Dalit welfare.

Kharge's comments were made while discussing deforestation in Chhattisgarh. He accused the BJP and its allies of land grabbing, stating, "Our jal, jungle and zameen need protection. They (BJP) claim they made Murmu President and Kovind President to exploit our resources. Today, people like Adani and Ambani are occupying it."

BJP Criticises Congress Chief

The BJP strongly criticised Kharge for his remarks, labelling them as "anti-women, anti-Dalit, and anti-tribal." Spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia condemned Kharge's language towards President Murmu and former President Kovind. Another spokesperson, Shehzad Poonawalla, claimed the comments revealed Congress's deep-seated animosity towards the SC and ST communities.

Poonawalla further stated that Congress has consistently shown disrespect towards constitutional positions. He mentioned that the party has not spared even the Chief Justice of India or the Prime Minister from their derogatory remarks.

Previous Controversies

This incident is not isolated; Congress has faced backlash before for similar comments. In 2022, senior leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury referred to President Murmu as "rashtrapatni," sparking a political row. The ruling BJP raised this issue in Parliament. Chowdhury later apologised, attributing his error to his Bengali mother tongue and limited Hindi proficiency.

The BJP's response highlights ongoing tensions between the parties regarding respect for constitutional roles. The controversy underscores broader political dynamics involving accusations of bias against marginalised communities.