Goyal demands Rahul Gandhi apologise over remarks about India's president

India's Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal demanded an apology from opposition leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks following a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu.

An INDIA bloc delegation submitted a memorandum alleging electoral irregularities to Murmu on October 9. Gandhi later said the president had not rejected its allegations and portrayed her response as acceptance of the opposition's position.

Speaking to reporters on October 10, Goyal challenged that interpretation. He accused Gandhi of disrespecting constitutional institutions and also sought an apology from the Congress leadership, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge.

Goyal linked his criticism to the president's role as commander-in-chief of India's armed forces. He condemned the delegation's conduct during the meeting.

The competing accounts of Murmu's response come from political participants. An absence of denial during a meeting does not by itself establish that the president endorsed allegations of electoral wrongdoing.