'If she kills Tapas Pal, complaints will be lodged against Mamata'

Kolkata, July 2: The Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Surjya Kanta Mishra today criticised Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's statement on her party MP Tapas Pal's hate speech saying she was also equally responsible for such irresponsible statements.

"The CM has described Pal's hate speech as a 'big blunder', while wondering if she should kill him for this. Isn't she aware of the law? If she kills him, complaints will be lodged against her," Mishra said here today.

Mishra, a CPI(M) Politburo member, said such hate speeches were not new by Banerjee's party leaders. "If questions arise of listing them, she (Mamata) has to stand in front of all," Mishra said.

"In the absence of strong action or punishment against such offences, rise in such hate speeches will continue take place," the CPI(M) leader said. When asked about hate speeches by several CPI(M) leaders including its former MP Anil Basu against Mamata Banerjee, Mishra said "She can't hide the crime by her party leaders with incidents of the past."

The Leader of Opposition said a suo motu criminal case should be lodged against Pal immediately. The Chief Minister had yesterday described Pal's hate speech as a "big blunder", but wondered if she should "kill him" for this and said whatever steps were needed, have been taken.

"The CPI(M), Congress and some others had in the past said so many things. CPI(M) had said so many things about me. I never saw you (media) people protest against it. But here I will protest because I feel it should not have been done," she had said.

PTI