BJP MPs move privilege motion against Sonia Gandhi over remark on President Droupadi Murmu

At least 21 tribal BJP MPs on Monday moved a privilege motion against Rajya Sabha MP Sonia Gandhi over her "derogatory and demeaning" remarks on President Droupadi Murmu following her joint address to both Houses of Parliament on January 31.

Sonia Gandhi, 78, sparked a controversy when she was caught on camera saying that President Murmu was "getting very tired by the end" during her nearly hour-long speech and alleged "she could hardly speak, poor thing".

In the notice, the BJP MPs said that Sonia Gandhi's remarks appeared to "demean the stature and dignity" of the President's office, the highest constitutional authority of the country.

Such remarks not only undermine the dignity of the office but also violate the sanctity of parliamentary procedures and conventions. It is relevant to state that Sonia Gandhi's utterances against the President can in no way get the benefit of parliamentary privileges," the notice read.

The BJP MPs said that parliamentary ethics and code of conduct prescribes that no member should utter defamatory words against



others.

They alleged that such remarks were 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".

"Any deviation from these standards diminishes the stature of the institution and compromises the trust that the citizens of India place in it," the notice said.

Citing a Supreme Court judgment that said abuse of privilege by an MP was "difficult to digest", the BJP MPs demanded "appropriate disciplinary action" against Sonia Gandhi, given the "gravity of the issue".

"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," they said.

"In light of the seriousness of this matter, especially when this concerns the President of India, we request that exemplary action for breach of parliamentary privileges, ethics and propriety be initiated against Sonia Gandhi for this contemptuous conduct," they added.