Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge has triggered a political hurricane after reportedly making disparaging comments against President Droupadi Murmu and her predecessor Ram Nath Kovind. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has come down heavily on the comments and called for an unconditional public apology from both Kharge and the Congress party.
Kharge delivered the objectionable comments on Monday during a public function in Chhattisgarh, where he blamed the BJP for “plundering the poor” and appropriating the people’s land and natural resources.
During a video clip posted on social media by BJP leaders, Kharge is heard pronouncing the names of the two leaders incorrectly, calling President Murmu “Murma ji” and former President Kovind “Covid”.
“It is their nature to threaten everyone. You will last only when you are not afraid. If we need to safeguard our jal, jungle, zameen (water, forest, land), then you all have to join hands in the battle against them (the BJP). The BJP is always talking about making (Droupadi) Murmu ji and (Ram Nath) Kovind ji the presidents of the country, but did the party do all this to steal our wealth, forests, water, and land?” Kharge said.
BJP Terms Remarks ‘Derogatory’, Demands Resignation of Mallikarjun Kharge
BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia responded sharply by accusing Kharge of having used “objectionable words” against the current and former Presidents and describing it as an insult to the Dalit and Adivasi communities.
#WATCH | Delhi: BJP National Spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia says, “Udit Raj said that no country should get a President like Droupadi Murmu…Adhir Chowdhury addressed the President as ‘Rashtrapatni’. It was such a derogatory remark toward a tribal woman…The Congress leaders… pic.twitter.com/CjI6cuxnZy
— ANI (@ANI) July 8, 2025
“You (Kharge) speak big – you referred to Ram Nath Kovind ji as ‘covid’.You call ‘Murma ji’ and then referred to her (President Droupadi Murmu) as a land mafia, accusing her of becoming President just to loot assets, forests,” Bhatia accused.
Bhatia called for Kharge to apologize and for the Congress party to own up to the “distasteful and derogatory” words of their leader.
“If the Congress and Mallikarjun Kharge do not apologise, you will see every citizen (of the country) venting out their anger. This blunder will prove costly for Congress,” he threatened.
Congress Alleged to have an ‘anti-Dalit’ and ‘anti-Adivasi’ Mentality
Bhatia also called Kharge a “remote-controlled president”, supposedly working under the instructions of Rahul Gandhi. Bhatia said that Kharge’s statement is indicative of the Congress party’s old “anti-Dalit, anti-Adivasi and anti-Constitution” policy.
BJP leader CR Kesavan expressed similar views, saying Kharge’s statement was a “venomous and diabolical attack” on the integrity of the two constitutional heads.
“For the Congress party, not Dalit welfare but only Dynastic welfare has always been top priority,” Kesavan tweeted on X.
He also quoted examples from the past, claiming that Congress refused Bharat Ratna to Dr B.R. Ambedkar and has repeatedly disrespected leaders from marginalized communities.
The BJP warned it would intensify nationwide protests against the Congress for repeatedly insulting Dalits and Adivasis if no apology is issued.
