CPI(M) leader and former MP Anil Basu, who sparked a controversy by making derogatory remarks against Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee at a public meeting in Hooghly district, offered a public apology on Sunday at the behest of the party leadership.
Mr. Basu's written apology “for using such language” was issued soon after Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said at a press conference that a warning had been given to him, and he would apologise publicly.
“My careless remarks about the leader of the opposition party [Ms. Banerjee] at a public meeting in Hooghly were uncalled-for. This goes against the grain of my party's ethos and culture,” Mr. Basu said. He realised that his remarks had made an impression in the minds of the people.
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Earlier in the day, Mr. Bhattacharjee admitted that it was “very unfortunate” that such “filthy language” was used that “nobody can tolerate.” Mr. Bhattacharjee said he did not want to counter the charge with other allegations, but it was also a fact that some Trinamool leaders had made highly personal attacks against him and his daughter, as well as other CPI(M) leaders.
Asked about the expelled CPI(M) leader and former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee campaigning for the Left Front, Mr. Bhattacharjee said: “He is a very important leader of our party.” “Some problem arose about two years ago, but he is still with our party and the Left movement. It is good that he is campaigning for us.”
Asked about the chances of Mr. Chatterjee being re-admitted to the party, he said: “To that, we have not given any thought.”
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