What Sonia Said, Why the President’s Office Reacted

Sonia Gandhi made a controversial remark about President Droupadi Murmu’s address to Parliament ahead of Budget 2025 sessions, saying, “The President was getting very tired by the end… She could hardly speak, poor thing.” This comment quickly caught the attention of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, which issued a strong rebuttal.

The President’s office expressed disappointment, stating that such remarks were not only “unfortunate” but also hurt the dignity of the high office. It suggested that the Congress leaders might have misunderstood the nature of the President’s speech due to a lack of familiarity with “the idiom and discourse in Indian languages such as Hindi,” leading to an incorrect impression.

The Rashtrapati Bhavan emphasized that President Murmu was neither tired nor struggling during her address. Instead, it pointed out that her speech, which focused on advocating for marginalized communities, women, and farmers, was a source of personal strength, not fatigue.

BJP IT head Amit Malviya quickly seized on the comment, accusing Sonia Gandhi of demeaning the office of the President and labeling it a reflection of her “feudal mindset.” He also criticized Rahul Gandhi for not paying a courtesy visit to the President, alleging that Congress had little regard for Ambedkar’s constitutional values.