A political storm has erupted following Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s speech in Chhattisgarh, where mispronunciations of key constitutional figures’ names have sparked strong backlash from the BJP. The incident took place during a public rally at the Science Ground in Raipur, where Kharge addressed environmental concerns and accused the BJP of colluding with industrialists to exploit tribal lands.
While raising issues related to deforestation and displacement of tribal communities, Kharge mistakenly referred to President Droupadi Murmu as “Murma ji” and later misnamed former President Ram Nath Kovind as “Covid”. Though Kharge immediately corrected himself on the first error, the second gaffe went viral, drawing widespread criticism and prompting accusations of insensitivity.
The Congress leader’s remarks came in the context of criticizing the BJP for alleged resource exploitation in tribal areas. He alleged that the ruling party had used the appointments of Murmu and Kovind as token gestures to deflect attention from deeper issues of land acquisition and corporate favoritism. He further linked the presence of corporate giants like Adani and Ambani in forested areas to what he called “systematic looting” under the guise of development.
The BJP responded swiftly and sharply. Party spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia accused Kharge of showing "utter disrespect" to constitutional positions, especially those held by members of marginalized communities. "These are not mere slips. Such language reflects a deeper mindset—one that fails to respect the dignity of tribal and Dalit leaders when they occupy high office," Bhatia said at a press conference in New Delhi.
This is not the first time Congress leaders have faced criticism for controversial references to President Murmu. In 2022, senior leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury drew backlash for calling her "rashtrapatni", later attributing the mistake to language limitations. The latest controversy now adds fuel to the ongoing political battle between the Congress and BJP in poll-bound states like Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, where tribal votes play a crucial role.
