Congress Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Friday tendered his apology to President Droupadi Murmu amid a large-scale uproad by the Bhatatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders for his 'rashtrapatni' remark. Chowdhury wrote a letter to President Murmu and requested her to accept his apology. "I am writing to express my regret for having mistakenly used an incorrect word to describe the position you hold," the letter read.
The senior Congress letter even reiterated that it was a slip of tongue. "I assure you that it was a slip of the tongue. I apologise and request you to accept the same," the letter read further.
Later responding to the protests and high-octane reaction over his remark, Chowdury said that he is waiting for the BJP to term me terrorist and arrest me under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
"They want to become champions of tribals, but hide how murders are happening. Laws brought under Sonia Gandhi are being changed. They are working against tribals," he said while speaking to news agency ANI.
The Congress MP's apology came a day after he said he never intended to disrespect the President and his 'rashtrapatni' remark was a "slip of the tongue". Chowdhury also said that he will apologise to President Murmu but not to "these pakhandis" (hypocrites).
A major political row broke out over Chowdhury's 'rashtrapatni' remark with the BJP launching an all-out offensive against the opposition party and its president Sonia Gandhi. The saffron party also accused Chowdhury of hurling a "deliberate sexist insult" at President Droupadi Murmu and demanding an apology from Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.
Several Union ministers, including Nirmala Sitharaman and Smriti Irani said Chowdhury used the term knowing well that it demeans President Murmu and her office and is against India's values. Both houses of Parliament also witnessed frequent adjournments due to protests by BJP members on the issue on Thursday.