BJP MPs encircle, heckle Sonia; Congress alleges they ill-behaved
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New Delhi: The Opposition accused BJP of "encircling and heckling" Congress President Sonia Gandhi after she had a bitter exchange with Union Minister Smriti Irani in Parliament. The verbal war happened after a Congress MP called President Draupadi Murmu "Rashtrapatni", NDTV reported.
Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury's "Rashtrapatni" comment caused uproar in the Lok Sabha, and subsequent protests led to the adjournment of the Lower House. After that, Sonia Gandhi went to speak to BJP MP Rama Devi. She reportedly asked Rama Devi that MP Ranjan had already apologised and what Sonia's fault was. But Irani reportedly cut in, and other BJP MPs joined, shouting slogans.
Reports suggest that Sonia told Irani not to talk to her. According to Congress, Irani, in reply, pointed her fingers at Sonia and asked how she dared to talk like that, she should not behave like that and warned her that the House was not her party's office. To this, Sonia replied that she was not speaking to Irani.
When more BJP MPs gathered around Sonia Gandhi, NCP's Supriya Sule, and Trinamool MP Aparupa Poddar reportedly escorted her away.
Trinamool Congress's Mahua Moitra was among the opposition MPs who witnessed the heated confrontation. She hit out at the BJP in her tweets.
TMC MP Mahua Moitra, who had witnessed the whole scene, lashed out against BJP on Twitter. She wrote, "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."
Was in Lok Sabha when 75 year old lady senior leader encircled & heckled pack-wolf style when all she did was walk over & speak (masked) to another senior lady panel chairperson.
— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) July 28, 2022
Disgusted to read BJP lies & false version in press.
All rules in Lok Sabha always only for Opposition. Today as soon as LS started before Hon'ble Speaker could even say "Baithiye" mic was hijacked by BJP for 10 minute tirade.
— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) July 28, 2022
Different strokes for different folks.
She added, "Disgusted to read BJP lies and false version in press."
The Congress party accused BJP of brutally heckling, verbally assaulting and physically intimidating Sonia. The party demanded an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and minister Smriti Irani. Congress MP Geeta Koda claimed that Sonia could have been injured from the confrontation.
She said that BJP MPs told Sonia at Lok Sabha that Sonia had talked enough and they would speak from there. She said that that was how they behaved, and Sonia could have gotten injured if she had been brought out before that.