Cong, JMM slam BJP for ‘disrespecting’ Prez

RANCHI: Congress and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leaders accused the Bharatiya Janata Pary (BJP) of “disrespecting” President Draupadi Murmu during the honouring of Lal Krishna Advani at his residence on Sunday.

“When the nation’s first citizen, President Draupadi Murmu, presented the Bharat Ratna to Lal Krishna Advani at his home, everyone, including Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stayed seated,” said Congress working president Bandhu Tirkey. “It wouldn’t be incorrect to state this is an affront not only to the President, who holds the highest office in the nation, but to women, tribal, and the oppressed,” said the executive president of Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee Bandhu Tirkey, organising a press conference at his official residence at Deendayal Nagar.

Echoing Tirkey, JMM general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya said the President is the supreme commander of the army, navy, and air force. “Is this a respect for the president?” Bhattacharya said. “Earlier, the President was not taken to the inauguration of Parliament House and the Bhoomi Pujan of Ram Temple for being a tribal. BJP does not respect the tribal community. At least Modi ji should have respected the post of President.”

BJP state media co-incharge and tribal leader Ashok Baraik, said. “They are shedding crocodile tears. A Congress leader and leader of the opposition, Adhir Rajan, termed her ‘Rashtra Patni’, while another senior Congress leader did not hesitate to call the president a symbol of ‘Shaitani Shakti’. The party that never allowed a tribal woman as president is leveling such allegations, and this is not acceptable.”