Bengal BJP Moves EC Against TMC's Abhishek Banerjee For Calling MLA Sreerupa Chaudhury 'Shameless'

BJP complained with the Election Commission against TMC's Abhishek Banerjee for calling its candidate and MLA Sreerupa Mitra Chaudhury "behaya (shameless)".

TMC Leader Abhishek Banerjee Chaudhury

Source : PTI Images

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Shishir Bajoria on Thursday lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) against Trinamool Congress General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee over derogatory remarks aimed at BJP MLA Sreerupa Mitra Chaudhury. She is a saffron party candidate from the 8 Maldaha Dakshin constituency. Chaudhury is popularly known as ‘Nirbhaya Didi’.

In a written complaint addressed to ECI, the state unit of BJP said, “We draw your attention to the offensive, sexist and derogatory remarks made by Abhishek Banerjee, General Secretary, Trinamool Congress against Smt Sreerupa Mitra Chaudhury, MLA and BJP candidate from the 8 PC Malda Dakshin at a public meeting held at on 23 April 2024 Abhishek Banerjee referred to Smt Sreerupa Mitra Chaudhury as ‘Behaya’.” 

“While a simple translation in English is ‘shameless’, when used for women has a very negative sexist undertone.” the party said. 

BJP also urged the poll body to bae Banerjee from campaigning from the Lok Sabha polls. 

“It is condemnable that a Member of Parliament, who also happens to be the General Secretary of the ruling dispensation in the State of West Bengal, which has a woman as the Chief Minister, would make such derogatory remark against another woman,” BJP said in a statement. 

“Furthermore, making such statements is in palpable violation of the Model Code of Conduct. The National Commission for Women has taken cognizance of such dereliction and has sought for report from the Director General of Police, West Bengal,” it added. 

“t is germane to mention that no person can be allowed to make derogatory remarks against a woman and the same amounts to outraging of modesty, which is punishable as an offence under Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, which is a cognizable and non- bailable offence,” the statement by the saffron party read further. 

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