July 29, 2022
2 mins read

Sonia Gandhi, Smriti Irani face-off sparks war of words

Other Congress leaders present at the spot have claimed that Irani pointed a finger at Gandhi and said, “How dare you, don’t behave like this. This is not your party office”…reports Asian Lite News

Union minister Smriti Irani heckled Sonia Gandhi and shouted at her, pointing a finger, the Congress said on Thursday after the exchange between the two leaders set off a political storm. Many versions are circulating about the dramatic exchange — most of them from BJP leaders who claim Sonia Gandhi had rebuffed Irani when she tried to cut into her conversation with the BJP’s Rama Devi.

In a statement, Jairam Ramesh — Congress MP and the party’s General Secretary-in-Charge of Communications — said Smriti Irani had “behaved inappropriately” with Sonia Gandhi and used “derogatory terms”.

“Sonia Gandhi was talking to a BJP MP, Rama Devi. Smriti Irani came to Sonia Gandhi and spoke abusive words in a very derogatory tone. When Sonia-ji politely told her, ‘I am not talking to you, I am talking to another MP,’ Smriti Irani shouted, ‘You don’t know me, who I am’. MPs of many other parties and Congress MPs are witnesses to this incident,” read Ramesh’s statement in Hindi.

“What kind of behaviour is this? Can an MP not even talk to a fellow MP? Smriti Irani can make her point in a political way. Why is she taking such a heckling attitude with a senior MP and a party president?” Ramesh added.

Other Congress leaders present at the spot have claimed that Irani pointed a finger at Gandhi and said, “How dare you, don’t behave like this. This is not your party office”.

The exchange took place after a heated Lok Sabha session where Irani had accused Sonia Gandhi of sanctioning her party MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury’s “Rashtrapatni” remark on President Droupadi Murmu. Calling her “anti-tribal, anti-Dalit and anti-woman”, she had demanded that the Congress chief apologise.

After the session was adjourned, Sonia Gandhi crossed the floor and spoke to Rama Devi, pointing out that Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has apologised and questioned what was her fault, sources said. That was when Smriti Irani reportedly tried to cut into the conversation, saying “Madam, may I help you? I took your name”. Sources said Sonia Gandhi had then retorted, “Don’t talk to me”.

Trinamool’s Mahua Moitra, one of the MPs who witnessed the exchange, tweeted that Gandhi was heckled “pack-wolf style”.

“Was in Lok Sabha when 75-year-old lady senior leader encircled and heckled pack-wolf style when all she did was walk over and speak (masked) to another senior lady panel chairperson. “Disgusted to read BJP lies and false version in press,” her post read.

Chowdhury has apologised for his “Rashtrapatni” remark, saying it was a “slip of tongue” owing to language barrier. He said he would meet Ms Murmu and apologise to the President “a hundred times” if she says she was hurt by his remark.

ALSO READ-ED grills Sonia for 3 hours, summons again on July 25

Previous Story

INS Vikrant handed over to Indian Navy

Next Story

Tibetan arrested in China for creating social media group

Latest from India News

China Curbs Hit India’s Electronics Boom

The ICEA noted this results in delays, inefficiencies, and higher costs — alternatives from Japan or Korea cost up to four times more than Chinese machinery. India’s transformation into a global electronics

India Maps 8.52 MT Rare Earth Reserves

The Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD) and the Geological Survey of India (GSI) are actively exploring and augmenting rare earth resources, while the GSI alone has added 482.6 million

Baloch Activist Thanks India, Slams Pakistan Terror

Mir Yar Baloch also appreciated the extraordinary courage and professionalism of the Indian Armed Forces, the “responsible and patriotic role” of the Indian media…reports Asian Lite News Prominent Baloch human rights activist

Tale of Two Kashmirs

Notwithstanding Pakistan’s claims of prosperity in PoJK, an analysis of socio-economic developmental indicators clearly reveals a stark contrast with the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir under Indian administration, a report by

India fast-tracks FTAs as US drags feet

As India cements its position as a global trading force with a flurry of new free trade agreements, including a landmark pact with the United Kingdom, negotiations with the United States continue
Go toTop

Don't Miss

When Modi, Sonia came face-to-face in Parliament

Modi greeted Sonia Gandhi by saying “Namaste”, and in her

Sonia Gandhi Elected Unopposed to Rajya Sabha

Sonia has been representing Rae Bareli in the Lower House