Kolkata:
Trinamool Congress MP Tapas Pal on Tuesday tendered an unconditional apology for his threat to kill CPI-M workers and having their women raped after he was asked by an embarrassed party leadership to do so following widespread outrage.
Pal, also a Bengali film actor, said in making such comments he had let down his constituents and the people of Bengal.
“Some remarks made by me in the heat and dust of the election campaign have caused dismay and consternation. I apologise unreservedly for them,” Pal said in a written apology to the Trinamool Congress and the media.
“I have no excuses to offer. It was a gross error of judgement and deeply insensitive. It should not have happened. And I assure you it will not happen again. Once more, a humble apology,” he said.
“Whatever the provocation—and there was an attempt at provocation - those comments should never have been made,” the letter said.
He said in making the comments he had let down the people of Bengal. “I have let down my party, the Trinamool Congress, and my political colleagues, I have let down my family, including my wife and children and my parents, and my friends.
“I apologise to all of them, and particularly to all women in our society and to those in the media who highlighted the issue,” the two-time Lok Sabha MP from Krishnagar said.
Pal was shown in a video footage on a vernacular TV news channel yesterday, saying, “If any CPI-M man is present here. Listen to me. If you ever touch any Trinamool Congress worker or their families at Choumaha, you have to pay for this. Don’t try to act smart with me. I am smarter than you...”
“... Earlier, you guys have bullied me on various occasions. If you insult the mothers and daughters of Trinamool workers. Then I won’t spare you. I will let loose my boys in your homes and they will commit rape. I will teach each of you a lesson,” the MP had warned.
The Union Home Ministry has sought a detailed report from the state government about Pal’s comments, a Union Home Ministry official said.
“The MHA has sought a detailed report from the state government regarding the comments made by Trinamool Congress MP Tapas Pal. We are expecting the detailed report within a day or two,” Union home ministry spokesperson K S Dhatwalia told PTI over phone.
Mamata Banerjee "deeply saddened" by Tapas Pal's remarks
West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee is “deeply saddened” by party MP Tapas Pal’s alleged remarks threatening to kill CPI(M) workers and have their women raped, party secretary general Partha Chatterjee said on Tuesday.
“Such kind of comment is condemnable. Our party leader is deeply saddened beyond comprehension. The matter came to her notice yesterday. He has been cautioned and an explanation has been sought from him. The party does not support this kind of conduct,” the West Bengal Education Minister said during a press conference at the Assembly premises.
Asked whether the administration would take action against the errant MP, he said “I have informed you about the views of the party. The administration will speak for itself.”
Another senior TMC leader and Panchayat Minister Subrata Mukherjee said that a decision in this regard would be taken at a meeting of party MPs tomorrow.
The TMC supremo has convened the meeting to chalk out a strategy for the upcoming Budget Session of Parliament.
On Opposition’s hue and cry over the issue and demand for stern action against Pal, Chatterjee said “The CPI(M) has no right to say so, given what they had done in the past.
“It is not that we have to follow the footsteps of what others had done,” Chatterjee said referring to instances of senior CPI(M) leader Anisur Rahman’s derogatory comments against Banerjee at in 2012 and Banerjee being pulled by the hair and driven out from the Writers Building when Jyoti Basu was chief minister.
TMC had demanded from the actor-turned MP to give an explanation in writing within 48 hours on why he made such remarks.
Pal, a Bengali film actor, was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Krishnagar constituency in Nadia district twice on TMC ticket in 2009 and 2014.
