Congress Leader Udit Raj Clarifies Comment On President Murmu After Outrage, NCW To Send Notice

NCW chief Rekha Sharma took an exception to Udit Raj's remarks where he accused President Droupadi Murmu of "chamchagiri" after she praised Gujarat during her recent visit to the state.

New Delhi: Congress leader Udit Raj on Thursday said that his remarks on President Droupadi Murmu accusing her of "chamchagiri" were personal and did not represent his party's views.

"My statement as regard to Draupadi Murmuji is mine & nothing to do with Congress. Her candidature & campaign were in the name adivasi, it doesn’t mean she is no longer adivasi. My heart cries that when SC/ST reach to higher position, they ditch their communities & become mum," he wrote on Twitter.

The Congress leader on Wednesday criticised the President as he accused her of "chamchagiri". "No country should get a president like Draupadi Murmu ji. Chamchagiri also has a limit. She said that 70% of people eat Gujarat's salt. If you live your life by consuming salt only, you will know," he wrote in a tweet in Hindi.

In another tweet, he further stated: "Draupadi Murmu ji has full respect being the President. She is also the representative of the Dalit-Adivasi (community) and they have the right to question her. It should not be linked to the post of President."

Udit Raj's remarks came days after President Murmu praised Gujarat in a civic reception hosted by the state government in her honour in Gandhinagar. She noted that the state produces 76 per cent of the country's salt and on a lighter note said that "the salt produced in Gujarat is consumed by all Indians" (yah kaha jaa sakta hai ki sabhi deshwasi Gujarat kaa namak khate hain), as reported by news agency ANI.

BJP Accuses Congress Of Having 'Anti-Tribal Mindset'

The BJP has hit out at the Congress following Udit Raj's tweet as spokesperson Sambit Patra accused the grand old party of having an "anti-tribal mindset".

"Words used for President Murmu by Congress leader Udit Raj worrisome, unfortunate. This is not the first time they have used such words. Congress' Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury did it too. This reflects their anti-tribal mindset," Sambit Patra said, as quoted by ANI.

BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla also termed it "another steep low remark of congress". "After Ajoy Kumar called President Draupadi Murmu as evil & then Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary used the term "Rashtrapatni" now Congress stoops to a new low! Udit Raj uses unacceptable language for the 1st woman Adivasi President! Does the Congress endorse this insult of Adviasi samaj," Poonawalla tweeted. 

Meanwhile, the National Commission for Women (NCW) chief Rekha Sharma took an exception to Udit Raj's remarks and said that the commission will send notice to the Congress leader and seek his response.

"Highly objectionable statement against the Supreme power of the country and a woman who with her sheer hard work reached at this position. @Dr_Uditraj must apologise for his derogatory and insulting statement. @NCWIndia is sending him a notice," she wrote on Twitter.