India’s Lok Sabha adjourned amid uproar over remark on President Droupadi Murmu

The proceedings in the Lok Sabha, lower House of Indian parliament, were adjourned for the day today (July 29, 2022) amid uproar and protests by opposition and BJP members over senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury's controversial remark about India's first Santal President Droupadi Murmu.

The House proceedings were first adjourned till 12 noon soon after the House had assembled for the day. However, similar scenes were witnessed when the House re-assembled at 12 noon, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

Opposition Congress members were in the Well of the House raising slogans against the government while ruling BJP lawmakers and federal ministers were on their feet demanding an apology from Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

A major political face-off between Sonia and Federal Minister Smriti Irani of BJP had erupted yesterday (July 28, 2022) over Chowdhury's 'rashtrapatni' remark made while giving a byte to a TV channel with the BJP launching an all-out offensive against Congress accusing Chowdhury of hurling a "deliberate sexist insult" at President Murmu and demanding an apology from the Congress chief.

Chowdhury, who is the leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, said he never intended to disrespect the President and his 'rashtrapatni' remark was a "slip of the tongue".

As the uproar continued, BJP member Rajendra Agarwal, who was in the chair, allowed laying of parliamentary papers and adjourned the proceedings till Monday.