Shocking rape remark by Tapas Pal brings more disgrace to TMC

A videotaped speech of actor-turned Trinamool Congress MP Tapas Pal in which he threatens to get opponents raped and shot surfaced on Monday has triggered national outrage.

The 55-year-old actor-turned politician, was caught on tape threatening the opposition by saying that he will let loose rapists on them if they didn't fall in line.

On the hazy footage, Pal, a two-term MP, is heard threatening to get CPM women raped as political retribution.

"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. I am not from Kolkata," Pal said in a video of his speech at Choumaha village in Nadia district which surfaced on a vernacular TV news channel and went viral.

Tapas Pal should be immediately suspended

He further went on to say, "I am from Chandannagar. Leaders are created by workers. I am also a goonda. I will shoot you guys if a Trinamool Congress worker is ever attacked. If you have the guts, then stop me. Keep this is in mind."

"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 lose my boys in your homes and they will commit rape. I will teach each of you a lesson," the Krishnanagar MP said.

Pal, however, denied that he spoke about rape. "What I said was I will tell my workers to 'raid'."

Many more in the list

The parliamentarians are not expected to make such lewd comments, but this is not for the first time when a politician has done so. There are old warhorses like Mulayam Singh Yadav, Abu Azmi, RR Patil and not to forget the TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee who have often made derogatory comments on serious issues like rape. And the famous 'dented and painted' comment by President Pranab Mukherjee's son Abhijeet Mukherjee after the December 16 rape case in Delhi is on the top of the list.

TMC touches a shocking new low

It seems that Pal who recently took to playing villain in Tollywood movies has joined Trinamool's terror brigade led by Trinamool Congress Birbhum district president Anubrata Mandal, Labhpur MLA Manirul Islam and food minister Jyotipriya Mullick and many more, who have given such startling remarks to terrorise the opposition from time to time. Earlier, before the state panchayat polls, Mandal had urged his TMC men to burn down houses of independent candidates and bomb police and Manirul Islam openly said that he had crushed three men under his feet.
At a rally in Birati, Mullick called CPM a snake and said, "What will you do if a snake enters your house? You all know what to do with such poisonous snakes. Treat the CPM like a snake."

And not to forget the fact that Mamata Banerjee's Government in West Bengal has faced severe criticism for the state's poor record on crime against women.

And the Party reacts:

These vile comments by the Krishnagore MP have made his own partymen hang their heads in shame. The party is left with no choice but to distance itself from Pal's comment. Trinamool spokesman Derek O'Brien said, "The statements made by Tapas Pal are utterly insensitive. The party does not in any way endorse what he said many weeks ago."

He also said, "Sensitive use of language is an obligation for role models in culture, politics and society. If that code is breached, public trust is lost".

Well, if our so called "representatives and role models" will talk this language then what will they teach their followers?

After such a comment, will the party do anything about it or just send nicely-worded tweets to the public? Although Trinamool has reacted with alacrity and has demanded a written explanation from Pal.

Who is Tapas Pal?

The second time Lok Sabha MP from Krishnanagar, Tapas Pal is a known face of Tollywood (Bengal film industry).

Pal's first movie appearance was in 1980, in 'Dadar Kirti,' directed by Tarun Majumder. He has several movies such as Bhalobasha Bhalobasha, Guru Dakshina and Madhuri Dixit's debut film 'Abodh', to his credit.

Pal has also received a Filmfare Award for his role in the movie 'Saheb.'

The 55-year old Pal became MP for the first time in 2009 after defeating CPI(M)'s Jyotirmoyee Sikdar by 77,386 votes.

Before this video controversy, Pal had earlier been in the eye of storm when he had asked his party men to beat up CPI(M) workers with shoes while addressing a rally at Tehatta, West Bengal.

Tapas Pal should be suspended

The best way to control the damage would be to pull out this aggressive player from the field by suspending him for letting loose his volley of abuses. Now the onus is on the TMC supremo to suspend him from the Parliament and party and register an FIR against him.

A clear message should be sent out across the political spectrum that this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated, and mere condemnation of such incidents will not suffice. Such politicians should be banned from active politics only then the public will feel that the 'system' does not spare anyone, not even the politicians.