BJP Says Kharge Insulted President Murmu After Name Slip, Congress Denies

India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday accused Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge of insulting President Droupadi Murmu and former President Ram Nath Kovind after he mispronounced their names while addressing a public meeting on 8 July. Video clips circulating online show Kharge referring to Murmu as “Murma ji” and Kovind as “Kovid ji,” before criticising both leaders as alleged “land grabbers.” BJP spokespersons Shehzad Poonawalla and Gaurav Bhatia said the remarks expose what they called the Congress party’s “anti-tribal, anti-Dalit mindset,” noting that Murmu is India’s first tribal head of state. Bhatia demanded a written apology and said the comments were intentional, not a slip of the tongue. Congress rejected the charge. Party spokesperson Pawan Khera dismissed the BJP’s criticism as “rubbish,” arguing that the ruling party was using Murmu’s tribal identity for political cover while ignoring broader issues affecting tribal communities. Other Congress figures said Kharge’s words had been taken out of context. The exchange adds to a history of partisan clashes over references to Murmu since her election in 2022, including earlier disputes when Congress leaders were accused of using disrespectful language for the President. No formal complaint had been filed with the Election Commission or parliamentary ethics bodies as of Tuesday afternoon.