Mamata deeply pained by MPs remark

Kolkata: The Trinamool Congress will take a decision on Wednesday on action against Tapas Pal, the MP whose shocking comment on rape has provoked widespread outrage. A senior party leader said it caused “deep anguish” to party chief Mamata Banerjee. 

But in an interesting development, Nandini pal, the wife of Tapas Pal, has come forward and apologised for her husband’s outrageous remark.     

“I apologise to the people of the country for the comments made. The comments need to be seen in the context, but he shouldn’t have used the term ‘rape’,” Nandini said.

“I will ask our boys to go and rape CPM women if necessary,” Tapas Pal, the Trinamool MP, who has become the eye of the storm, had said while addressing a rally. Tapas Pal, 55, is an award winning actor. His daughter Sohini Pal too is an actor in Bengali films.

An embarrassed Trinamool Congress quickly distanced itself from Pal’s comments. “Statements made by Tapas Pal are very insensitive. We do not in any way endorse what he said weeks ago, being played on TV today,” O’Brien said. 
 

Mamata should break her silence and throw this man out. Insensitive comments like these should be stopped by politicians,” said former IPS officer Kiran Bedi.

CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat also called for action against Pal. “This is completely unacceptable, the Lok Sabha Speaker must take suo motu note of the remark. Why is the Bengal CM who is so vocal on all issues silent on this,” she asked.

“There is no place for enmity in politics. He should justify his statement, so should the party,” said Congress leader Manish Tewari.

BJP leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy said, “It is a bizarre remark. It is unthinkable that a person like him would say something like this. The question needs to be asked to Mamata Banerjee if she would endorse such statements and what action would be taken.”