West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee is ‘extremely hurt’ with the remarks made by MP Tapas Paul and directed the party to take appropriate action against him, Trinamool Congress Secretary General Partha Chatterjee said in Kolkata on Tuesday.
"We do not endorse the statement in any manner and instead we condemn it. The party had sought written explanation from the MP in this regard," Mr. Chatterjee told journalist in the State Assembly. Meanwhile, the MP's wife, Nandini Paul apologized for her husband's conduct.
"He should not have lost his temper. I apologize for his conduct," Ms. Paul said.
The West Bengal Assembly witnessed noisy scenes on the MP's remark where he had threatened to unleash "rapists on the supporters of Communist Party of India (Marxist)." The recording which is about two weeks old was telecast by certain television channels on Monday. > Mr. Paul also threatened saying that he may "shoot the CPI (M) cadres with his gun" if they "harass" his party colleagues.
Congress legislator Asit Mitra sought an adjournment motion on the issue in the House on Tuesday. The motion was disallowed by the Speaker Biman Banerjee following which the Congress legislators walked out in protest.
Commenting on Mr. Paul's comments Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly Surjya Kanta Mishra said that such a comment by the actor turned politician would have been censured by the censor board even if it was made in a film.
Dr. Mishra said that a dozen of FIR would be registered against the MP across the State including one complaint at the place in Nadia district where he made such comments.
On whether police will lodge any complaint against Mr Paul, Mr Chatterjee evaded any direct answer.
"Yesterday you (journalists) asked what the party will do in this regard. Now you are asking what the police will do," Mr. Chatterjee said adding that he is only clarifying party's stand in this matter.
The Minister pointed out that even the CPI(M) leaders had made derogatory comments directed at Ms Banerjee and said that they will "drag her by pulling her hair".
"We will not tread the same path," he said adding that the Trinamool Congress is taking the issue seriously and does not want to "belittle it (Mr Paul's comments)".
Bengal based Civil rights group Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR) has written to National Human Rights Commission asking them to take cognizance of the violation of human rights by the MP. They also demanded Mr Paul's arrest.
