Nandigram (West Bengal): The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Saturday took cognizance of Trinamool Congress minister Akhil Giri's questionable remarks against President Draupadi Murmu. In a tweet, the women's body stated the same, further adding that its Rekha Sharma, NCW Chairperson, had written to the West Bengal DGP, seeking an investigation into the same.
"@NCWIndia has taken cognizance of the matter. Chairperson @sharmarekha has written to DGP West Bengal for conducting a fair and time-bound investigation and to take strict action in the matter" the women's body said.
The decision comes shortly on the heels of a demand by the West Bengal BJP legislators writing a letter to Governor La Ganesan, requesting an appointment to put forward their demand seeking resignation of Giri as a minister.
"The President of India is the Constitutional head and Commander in Chief of all the Indian Armed Forces. An insult to her is equivalent to insulting our country", the document read.
"...The West Bengal BJP State Legislature Party seeks your appointment by tomorrow or day after tomorrow in this matter, so that we can make a demand to sack such irresponsible and uncouth person as a Minister of the state of West Bengal." it further stated, further requesting Ganesan, who is currently out of station, to return to Kolkata within the given timeline.
The Trinamool Congress, meanwhile, has clarified its stance over the incident, noting it had 'utmost respect' for the latter, condemning Giri's comments in the process.
"We have the utmost respect for Hon'ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu. Our party strongly condemns the unfortunate remarks made by MLA @AkhilGiriAITC and clarifies that we do not condone such statements. In the era of women's empowerment, such misogyny is unacceptable" the party said on Twitter.
Meanwhile, Giri, a TMC legislator representing the Nandigram constituency, apologized on Saturday hours after the concerned clip became viral. "I said the 'President'. I didn’t take anyone’s name. If the President of India feels insulted, I am sorry and regret for whatever I have said" he said.
He further observed that he intended to reply to West Bengal BJP President Suvendu Adhikari and 'in the process mentioned the post.' "I'm a minister and took oath to office. If something is said against the President, it's an insult to the Constitution" he also added.
The controversy cropped up when West Bengal BJP unit- posting a video on their Twitter handle- alleged that the Trinamool Congress minister has made objectionable comments about the President while speaking at a meeting in Nandigram of East Midnapore. In the video, Giri was seen saying - "We don't go by physical appearance. We respect the post of the President but how your (Suvendu Adhikari) President looks like!"
The tweet also said that Giri told all these things in front of West Bengal women and child welfare minister Sashi Panja. "Our President is from the tribal community. From this it is easily understandable that Mamata Banerjee and her party is against the tribal of the state," the tweet read.
On Friday (November 10) the Land Eviction Prevention Committee - a farmer's wing of Trinamool Congress organised a rally to observe the Martyrs' Day- a day observed by Trinamool Congress to remember the martyrs who were killed in Nandigram massacre. The ruling party, however, alleged that BJP men not only set the stage on fire but also thrashed up Trinamool Congress supporters when they tried to stop them. Front-line leaders of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) like Shashi Panja, Kunal Ghosh, Akhil Giri, Soumen Mahapatra, and other leaders were present on the dias.
Giri didn't stop at this, threatening also to break the opposition leader's hands and ribs. The Minister was then heard saying, "Let our chief minister Mamata Banerjee give the consent. We shall break his limbs and ribs".
Meanwhile, BJP MP Saumitra Khan wrote to the National Commission for Women (NCW), requesting the adjudicatory body to "immediately arrest" Akhil Giri and take appropriate action against him and "try to dismiss him from the post of MLA" over his objectionable remark on President Droupadi Murmu.
