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

A group of BJP MPs on Monday moved a breach of parliamentary privilege motion against Congress MP Sonia Gandhi, alleging use of "derogatory and slanderous words" to describe President Droupadi Murmu as she addressed a joint session of Parliament last week.

The comments, the MPs alleged, were meant to "lower the dignity of the highest office".

"We write this with great dismay about certain unparliamentary, derogatory, and demeaning remarks recently made by Sonia Gandhi, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), against the President of India, which warrant serious consideration and disciplinary action," the notice said.

On Friday, after the President addressed Parliament to open the Budget session, Ms Gandhi used the phrase "poor thing" to describe Ms Murmu; she noted the President seemed to be getting very tired, and said, "...by the end she could hardly speak, the poor thing."