Tapas hospitalised, opposition cries foul

This is an excuse to avoid attending Parliament, says Surjya Kanta Mishra

People burning an effigy of Trinamool Congress MP Tapas Paul during a protest over his controversial remarks, in Kolkata on Monday.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Tapas Paul, recently in the news for giving an inflammatory speech inciting rape and violence on his opponents, was rushed to a private multi-speciality clinic after he fell ill here on Sunday night.

“Mr. Paul was admitted to the emergency section. He had been running a high fever and there was a sudden spurt in his blood pressure. He has also been complaining of acute lower back pain. It is a chronic pain that has aggravated now,” Pradeep Tandon, CEO of the private hospital where Mr. Paul is admitted, said.

“His condition has improved slightly now. We can’t say when he can be discharged,” Suddha Kalyan Paul, the doctor who is treating the MP, said.

Opposition parties, however, have cried foul and claimed that it was a ploy by Mr. Paul to avoid attending proceedings in Parliament a day before the budget session.

“This is just an excuse to avoid Parliament,” Leader of Opposition Surjya Kanta Mishra said.

“I think his party instructed him to announce that he is unwell because his attending Parliament will lead to more problems and criticisms of the TMC,” State president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rahul Sinha said.