After 'Infiltrator' Remark On PM Modi, Adhir Ranjan Sparks Row By Calling Sitharaman 'Nirbala'

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Monday Friday sparked a controversy by calling Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman 'Nirbala' 'weak' in the Lok Sabha. "I have respect for you, but at times I think that instead of Nirmala Sitharaman, whether it would be appropriate to call you 'Nirbala' Sitharaman. You are a minister but do you speak your mind," Chowdhury asked in the Lower House.

Earlier, a war of words broke out in Lok Sabha on Monday when Bharatiya Janata Party lawmakers tried to corner Chowdhury over his remarks that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah were ‘infiltrators’. During the Question Hour, when the Congress MP rose to ask a supplementary related to the Steel Ministry, ruling alliance members tried to mock him by shouting the word ‘infiltrator’ several times.

AR Chowdhury, Congress in Lok Sabha: Aapke liye respect toh hai lekin kabhi kabhi sochta hu ki aapko Nirmala Sitharaman ki jagah 'Nirbala' Sitharaman kehna theek hoga ke nahi. Aap mantri pad pe toh hai lekin jo aapke man mein hai wo keh bhi paati hai ya nahi. pic.twitter.com/vVbmtpEUYK

— ANI (@ANI) December 2, 2019

The Congress leader immediately countered it by saying “Yes, I am an infiltrator, I am a ‘deemak’ (termite).  Modi is an infiltrator. Amit Shah is an infiltrator. Lal Krishna Advani is an infiltrator”.

To this, Union Petroleum and Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan shot back saying his ‘design would be exposed soon’.

“Sab khulengi, aap ki paribhasha se desh nahi chalega (Everything will be exposed. The country will not run by your definitions,” Pradhan said.

On Sunday, Chowdhury had termed PM Modi and Union Home Minister Shah as ‘infiltrators’ in Delhi. The Congress leader also said they are migrants since they have their homes in Gujarat but are now living in Delhi.