NEW DELHI: Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani and Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury engaged in a low-key verbal fight in the Lok Sabha during Question Hour.
The episode commenced when the minister while replying to a query by BJD member Chandra Sekhar Sahu pertaining to her department, referred to him as "gentleman" instead of "honourable member".
When Chowdhury and a few other members protested to this and requested that the minister refer to the MP as a "honourable member," Irani responded that Chowdhury was making a big deal out of nothing in an effort to appease his political masters and gain favour.
Sonia Gandhi, a former leader of the Congress, was present in the Lok Sabha at the time.
I want to notify this gentleman (referring to Chowdhury) that his message has reached his political masters, Irani remarked, adding that there was nothing improper with the word "gentleman."
When the BJD member while asking the 2nd supplementary question, referred to Irani as "honourable madam", she expressed her thanks to the member.
Chowdhury brought up the reason behind her usage of the word "gentleman" at this point once more. Ar this point, Irani mentioned that she was being interrupted by the Congress member as a political move, since she was being shown respect by the BJD member.
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