TMC distances itself from member Tapas Pal's "rape" comment; wife apologises

Kolkata, July 1: Tapas Pal's "rape" comment may be an old one, but it is leaving fresh wounds on

's image as a party of the people. The BJP has now sought to know what West Bengal chief minister

is doing against its party member.

Tapas, an award-winning actor set a bad taste on camera when he said that he would send out its boys to "rape CPM women" if necessary. BJP's Raji Pratap Rudy said,"The question needs to be asked to Mamata Banerjee if she would endorse such statements and what action would be taken."

Defending his party, Derek O'Brien said,"A chief minister as sensitive as Mamata Banerjee, I can tell you in colloquialism, she is hopping mad." However, it seems otherwise. Sources believe that the video dates back to May when the actor won the general elections, while addressing party workers in a village in Nadia district.

In the hazy footage, the TRinamool MP is seen saying,"If any opposition member lays a hand on a Trinamool worker...I will send my men to rape them."

Distancing itself from the leader, TMC's O'Brien admitted that Pal's comments were insensitive. " We do not in any way endorse what he said weeks ago, being played on TV today," he said.

Meanwhile, CPM leaders said that they would approach the National Commission for women and would also complain to te speaker of the Lok Sabha. Tapas Pal's wife Nandini Pal, however apologised on the behalf of her husband. "I apologise to the people of the country for the comments made. The comments need to seen in the context, but he shouldn't have used the term 'rape'," she said.

OneIndia News