New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday slammed Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi over their remarks on President Droupadi Murmu's address to the joint sitting of two Houses of Parliament, saying the remarks of are an insult to the "tribal brothers and sisters" of the country.

Addressing a public meeting in Dwarka, the Prime Minister said the "royal family of the Congress does not like those who rise from the grassroots" and "repeatedly insults the poor and people from Dalit, Adivasi, OBC communities who are achievers".

The Prime Minister said in a post on X later that the "royal family" should seek an apology from the President.

"Today the royal family of Congress has insulted the President. They should at the earliest tender apology to the President and our poor brothers and sisters and those belonging to SC, ST and OBC communities, he said. The post had video clip of PM's speech at Dwarka rally.

In his speech, PM Modi said "AAPda and Congress represent height of arrogance" and the "royal family of Congress showed its arrogance again today".

"Droupadi Murmuji has come here from a tribal family. Her mother tongue is not Hindi, it is Odia. She inspired the Parliament today in a wonderful way, gave a speech. But the royal family of Congress has started insulting her. A member of the royal family said that the tribal daughter gave a boring speech. Another member went one step further and called the President a poor thing. She called the president poor and a thing and tired. They find the speech of a tribal daughter boring. This is an insult to the 10 crore tribal brothers and sisters of the country. This is an insult to every poor person of the country," he said.

PM Modi said the President's speech talked of the progress being made the country and about farmers' welfare.

"They (Congress leaders) like abusing people, defaming India in foreign countries and talking about urban Naxals," he said.

Referring to the President Murmu's speech, Sonia Gandhi said the President "was getting very tired, by the end...she could hardly speak, poor thing."

Several other BJP leaders also criticised Sonia Gandhi's remarks.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra slammed BJP leaders for politicising Sonia Gandhi's remarks.

"My mother is a 70-80 years old lady, she has simply said that 'the President read such a long speech and she must have been tired, poor thing'...she fully respects (President of India). I think it is very unfortunate that this kind of thing is twisted by the media. They both are two respected people and older than us...she means no disrespect. BJP should first apologise for pushing (the country) into a gorge," she said.

In his speech, PM Modi alleged that the ruling AAP has silently joined hands with Congress and urged Delhi voters to be cautious. "Out of fear of losing, these two egoists have joined hands," he said.

He said Delhi needs a "double-engine" government and said people of the national capital have decided that AAP will be ousted and BJP government will be formed.

"Seeing the growing anger of Delhi's people towards AAP-da, the party has started openly lying. AAP-da's dislike for Haryana is clear, and their actions reflect this. They have blamed Haryana's farmers whenever Delhi faces pollution problems. Now, they are accusing Haryana of polluting the Yamuna River...They have no shame left...They can stoop to any level to prove their lies," he said.