Criticising Congress MP and President Pranab Mukherjee’s son Abhijit Mukherjee for playing down Trinamool Congress MP Tapas Paul’s offensive comments, State Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said on Friday that he will seek an explanation from the party MP in this regard.
“The party does not support what Abhijit babu said, instead, I, as the State Congress president, condemn it. I will seek an explanation from him on making such comments,” Mr. Chowdhury told journalists.
Mr. Mukherjee on Thursday described Mr. Paul’s comments as a “slip of the tongue” and said that the said that the issue should not be dragged further.
“At times, such slips of tongue happen although it shouldn't happen. Many of us have made similar mistakes in the past. I hope such things don't get repeated in future," the Congress MP from Jangipur in Murshidabad district had said on Thursday. The State Congress president, who has demanded that Mr. Paul be arrested for making such offensive comments, said that all functionaries of the party had to bear in mind that they were associated with the Congress.
“Personal view of any person should not contradict the party line, particularly when such comments may have an adverse affect on the party,” Mr. Chowdhury had said.
Mr. Chowdhury had also criticised Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee “shamelessly shielding her protégé” after the ruling party said that the matter ended with an unconditional apology by the MP from Krishnanagar.
