New Delhi: Congress leader Ajay Kumar created a storm when he said that NDA presidential candidate Draupadi Murmu represents a “very bad philosophy of India”. Due to this the BJP demanded an apology from Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda. “Ajay Kumar shows his anger for not being able to do anything. Entire Congress should apologize to the country for this statement. Tribal society has been with a proud history before independence and is continuously struggling after independence because tribals have been saved. Recognition was not given. Congress even after being in power for a long time,” Munda said.
Draupadi Murmu controversy: What did Ajoy Kumar say?
Ajay Kumar sparked a controversy with his remark that NDA’s presidential candidate Draupadi Murmu represents a “very bad philosophy of India” and should not be made a “symbol of tribals”. “It is not about Draupadi Murmu. Yashwant Sinha is also a good candidate and Murmu is also a decent person. But she represents a very bad philosophy of India. We should not make her a symbol of ‘Adivasi’. We have President Ram Nath Kovind, Hathras Hua. Has he said a word? The condition of Scheduled Castes has become worse,” Kumar said.
Against Murmu, the Congress-led opposition parties have fielded former Union minister Yashwant Sinha for the July 18 presidential election.
BJP targets Congress
Munda also said that the opposition is shocked that a woman from a tribal society has been projected as the presidential candidate. “Ajay Kumar said Murmu should not be the face of tribals, it should also be noted that Kumar himself is not from the tribal community. He has exposed himself,” Munda said.
If elected, Draupadi Murmu will be India’s first tribal president and the country’s second woman president. She was the first woman governor of Jharkhand (from 2015 to 2021). Born in a poor tribal family in a village in Odisha’s backward district of Mayurbhanj, Murmu completed her studies despite challenging circumstances.
Also read: Presidential election 2022 – Shiv Sena to support Draupadi Murmu
Murmu was a national executive member of the BJP’s ST Morcha from 2013 to 2015 and served as the BJP district chief of Mayurbhanj (West) in 2010 and 2013. Between 2006 and 2009, she was the chief of the ST Morcha of the BJP in Odisha. She was a member of the National Executive of BJP ST Morcha from 2002 to 2009.
(with ANI inputs)