Congress Leader under fire for "Rashtrapatni" usage; says "Hindi Not My Mother Tongue"

New Delhi: Facing demands from the BJP to apologize for calling President Droupadi Murmu "Rashtrapatni", Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury today said he will apologize to the President and not anyone else.

"Rashtrapatni slipped out, that was my mistake. I am Bengali, not a Hindi-speaking person, so it slipped out. I never intended any insult to the country's highest post," Adhir Chowdhury told NDTV.

"I have said not once but 100 times that I made a mistake. What can I do? One can make a mistake. I am Bengali, and Hindi is not my mother tongue. I am not used to Hindi. If despite this our President is offended, then I will meet her and talk to her and explain to her. I will not disrespect anyone on this high post," said the Congress MP.

"I can't speak Hindi, doesn't mean that I will deliberately insult someone or undermine them."

To the BJP who is demanding an apology not just from him but from his party leader Sonia Gandhi, Mr Chowdhury said: "If I have made the mistake or done anything wrong, then why should anyone else be dragged into it?"

He had earlier released a video in his defence, accusing the ruling BJP of making too much of a slip.

"India's President, whoever it is, a Brahmin or tribal - a Rashtrapati is a Rashtrapati. It is a post of great honour and prestige. Yesterday, when reporters asked me during a protest where we are headed, I said - We are going to the Rashtrapati's house, to meet with the Rashtrapati. Suddenly, once, Rashtrapatni slipped out. That is because, in the past few days, there has been so much discussion over our new President. Just one time, only once, it came out. By default," Mr Chowdhury said.

The Congress MP had requested the media not to air the comment, but it was played anyway.

"Now there is bawaal (ruckus). Over a slip - one word. It is very surprising. The BJP has nothing to say against us, so they find some masala. They are blowing up the issue out of proportion. They are making a mountain out of a molehill," Mr Chowdhury said.

BJP demanded an apology from Sonia Gandhi, the Congress president. Such remarks by the party leader were alleged to have been "sanctioned" by her.

Asked if Chowdhury would apologise, Sonia Gandhi told NDTV: "He has already apologised."

The ruling party protested in both houses of Parliament, leading to repeated disruptions.

Union Minister Smriti Irani said in the Lok Sabha that the Congress should apologize to every citizen of India, in Parliament and on Indian streets.

"Sonia Gandhi appointed the leader of the Congress party in the Lok Sabha a man who calls Droupadi Murmu ji 'Rashtrapatni'...Under Sonia Gandhi's leadership, Congressmen continue to demean the women in constitutional posts. Congress party for demeaning the first tribal President of our country needs to apologise in Parliament, on the streets of India and the apology is not only due to the President of India but to every citizen of India who is duly represented by Droupadi Murmu ji in office," Smriti Irani said as BJP leaders held up placards and chanted slogans.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in Rajya Sabha: "This was a deliberate, sexist insult to the President of India."