No country should get president like Droupadi Murmu; chamchagiri also has its limits: Congress leader Udit Raj

New Delhi: Congress leader Udit Raj stoked a huge controversy with his disparaging comments against President Droupadi Murmu. He accused her of indulging in 'chamchagiri'.

"No country should get a President like Draupadi Murmu ji. Chamchagiri also has its limits. It is said that 70% of people eat salt from Gujarat. If you live life by eating salt yourself, you will know," Udit Raj tweeted.

Meanwhile, amid huge criticism, the Congress leader said his comment has nothing to do with the Congress and he released them in his personal capacity.

"My statement is personal to Draupadi Murmu ji, not of Congress party. Made Murmu ji a candidate and asked for votes in the name of Adivasi. Was there no Adivasi after becoming the President? If there is the President of the country, then also the representative of the tribal. Crying comes when people go to the post in the name of SC/ST and then keep quiet," he said in a tweet.

Udit Raj's statement came after President Murmu said that Gujarat produces 76 per cent of the country's salt and it can be said "the salt produced in the state is consumed by all Indians".

"India is ranked first in terms of milk production and consumption. White revolution launched by milk cooperatives in Gujarat plays an important role in this. Gujarat manufactures 76 per cent of the country's salt. It can be said the salt produced in Gujarat is consumed by all Indians (yah kaha jaa sakta hai ki sabhi deshwasi Gujarat kaa namak khate hain)," the President stated on October 3.

BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla hit out at the grand old party saying that the Congress leaders have a history of insulting people occupying constitutional posts.

He accused Udit Raj of crossing all limits by using such a language against President Murmu.

Tom Vadakkan, another BJP leader, who was earlier associated with the Congress, condemned Udit Raj's comments and demanded strict action against him. Vadakkan opined that the post of president should always be respected and such comments against the person holding the highest post in the country are not acceptable.

In July 2022, Congress Lok Sabha MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury had invited severe criticism after he referred to President Murmu as 'Rashtrapatni'.

BJP MPs including Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had strongly protested against the senior Congress leader and had demanded apology from the Congress.

After facing huge flak, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury apologised to President Droupadi Murmu and stated that he had "mistakenly" used an "incorrect" word to describe the post she held.

"I inadvertently used the word 'rashtrapatni' just once and it was a slip of the tongue. I never meant any disrespect to the President," Chowdhury had told reporters before apologising to the president.

"I am a Bengali and not used to Hindi. I made a mistake, I agree," the Congress MP had said.

I will apologise to President Murmu but not to "these pakhandis" (hypocrites), he had said while referring to the BJP uproar.