New Delhi/Kolkata
West Bengal’s Minister for Correctional Administration Akhil Giri on Saturday apologized for his remarks on the “looks” of President Droupadi Murmu after it drew widespread criticism, including from his own Trinamool Congress.
His apology came after the 17-second video clip of his comments went viral. “They (BJP) said that I am not good-looking. We don’t judge anyone by their appearance. We respect the office of the President (of India). But how does our President look?” Giri was heard saying at a rally in a village in Nandigram late on Friday evening.
The BJP and the Central Government came out hard against him and the TMC.
“They (TMC) cannot digest the fact that a tribal woman is now the President of India. BJP strongly condemns this. We will make sure he (TMC leader Akhil Giri) gets busted,” Union Minister of Tribal Affairs, Arjun Munda, said.
Amit Malviya, BJP’s IT Cell head, tweeted saying: “Akhil Giri, minister in Mamata Banerjee’s cabinet, insults the President, says, We don’t care about looks. But how does your President look? Mamata Banerjee has always been anti-Tribals, didn’t support President Murmu for the office and now this. Shameful level of discourse…”
The TMC sought to quickly distance itself from the controversial remarks terming it as “irresponsible”.
“This is an irresponsible comment & does NOT represent the views of @AITCofficial. We are extremely proud of the President of India & hold her & her office in the highest regard,” read the tweet by TMC spokesperson Saket Gokhale.
The TMC said it doesn’t support such a comment but won’t take responsibility for remarks made by leaders in an individual capacity. “We don’t want to comment on stray remarks by individuals. The party neither supports such remarks nor takes responsibility for such comments. We have immense respect for the President of the country,” TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said.
Giri apologized saying: “I didn’t mean to disrespect the Honourable President. I was replying to what BJP leaders said while verbally attacking me. I apologise for making such a remark. I have immense respect for the President of our country.”
But the BJP lashed out at the Trinamool Congress and said Giri’s remark reflected the “anti-tribal” mindset of the Bengal-based party.
“President Droupadi Murmu hails from the tribal community. Akhil Giri made objectionable comments against the country’s President. These comments reflect the anti-tribal mindset of the TMC party,” BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said.
Bengal BJP leader Saumitra Khan even wrote to the National Commission for Women seeking Giri’s arrest and getting him disqualified as an MLA for his “heinous act”. The State BJP is holding protests across Bengal over the issue.
Earlier, leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and former Congress MP Udit Raj too had courted controversy with their remarks against the President.
While Chowdhury had called her “Rashtrapatni”, Raj had attacked her directly terming her a “sycophant”. BJP had charged Congress for being anti-tribal even as the NCW had summoned Raj.
