Mamata Banerjee apologizes for Trinamool Minister’s comments on the President

Kolkata:

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today condemned and apologized for her minister’s remarks on President Draupadi Murmo. She said it was not in the culture of her party to make personal comments, adding that the Moroccan Liberation Army had been warned about its comments and its party had also apologized.

Ms Banerjee said: “We respect the president very much. She is a very nice lady, I apologize for the comments,” adding that “Achilles (Jerry) made a mistake; I condemn the comments and apologize.

“Beauty isn’t about how you look, it’s about how you are on the inside,” she added.

In West Bengal, the BJP MLAs marched to Raj Bhavan this afternoon in protest against the distasteful comments made by Trinamool Minister Akhil Giri regarding the President of India. The BJP MLAs were heard sing songs and were led by opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari.

Sovindu Adhikari told reporters, “Even after 72 hours of his comments, the PM did not recommend his dismissal to the governor, and she did not even ask him to resign. We sent an email to the governor on Saturday. We have reached Raj Bhavan with a demand. This is not an appeal. There is enough room. In the constitution he has to advise the prime minister to dismiss the minister, whether he is in Delhi or Imphal or Chennai. How he does it is his command.”

He added, “We have written this here. We did not come to Raj Bhavan to have tea with his secretary. Our message should reach the Governor and that is why we have come here to say it.”

After the video of his comments went viral, Mr. Jerry apologized for making the remark.

In the 17-second video, Mr. Jerry is heard commenting on the “look of the president”.

“They (BJP) said I am not good looking. We don’t judge anyone by their appearance. We respect the position of the President (India). But what does our President look like?” Jerry, the Secretary of State for Corrections, was heard saying at a rally in a village in Nandigram late Friday night.

The party called the comments “irresponsible” and “misogynistic”, and distanced itself from Mr. Jerry’s comments.

“We highly respect His Excellency the President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu. Our party strongly condemns the unfortunate remarks made by MLA Akhil Giri and makes it clear that we do not support such statements. In the era of women’s empowerment, such misogyny is unacceptable,” the party tweeted.

Trinamol also cited several cases of BJP leaders indulging in personal attacks on TMC leaders, particularly the MLA tribes and Minister Birbha Hanzda. Taking off at Suvendu Adhikari, TMC said, “Belittling women and the ST community comes as second nature to SuvenduWB. He used the non-parliamentary language of MLABirbaha_Hansda, daughter of Earth, proud Adivasi. Any sermon on respect for women from leaders @BJP4India is a cruel joke”