West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday condemned minister Akhil Giri's derogatory comments on President Droupadi Murmu's looks and apologised on behalf of TMC. Banerjee said she has immense respect for the President, and TMC had cautioned Giri and other MLAs against making derogatory remarks in the future.
"Akhil Giri has committed a mistake. I condemn his utterings and apologise on behalf of my party. My party has already apologised for it. I have great regard for the President. We have cautioned our MLA and if it happens in future then the party will take action," ANI quoted Mamata as saying.
"Somebody has committed a mistake and we are opposing it, we aren't supporting it. But every day the language that is being used to make statements and the lying that is continuing is unacceptable," Banerjee further said.
READ | 'Sorry, Regret What I Said': TMC Minister After Outrage Over His Comment On President Murmu
Last week, a video clip of Giri went viral in which he was heard commenting on the looks of the President and mocking the BJP.
"They (BJP) said that I am not good-looking. We don't judge anyone by their appearance. We respect the office of the President (of India). But how does our President look?" Giri, the minister of state for Correctional Homes, was heard saying at a rally in a village in Nandigram late on Friday.
After his remarks drew widespread criticism and protests by the Opposition, Giri apologised.
The BJP had demanded that Giri be sacked as minister as his comments against Murmu, a woman as well as a Scheduled Tribe holding the highest Constitutional post of the country, had hurt the feelings of every Indian.
"Mamata Banerjee should lead by example and expel such a leader from her party (TMC). Giri has polluted and lowered the standards of politics in the country," BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia had said.
Meanwhile, on Monday, TMC released a video where leader of the opposition Suvendu Adhikari was heard making a remark against state minister from ST community Birbaha Hansda.
"Belittling women and the ST community comes as second nature to @SuvenduWB. He has used the most unparliamentary language for MLA @Birbaha_Hansda, who is a daughter of the soil, a proud adivasi. Any sermon on respect for women from @BJP4India leaders is a cruel joke," the TMC tweeted.
In the video, Adhikari is heard telling a gathering, "Those who are sitting there are kids. This Debnath Hansda, Birbaha Hansda are all kids; their place is beneath my shoe."
Adhikari has, however, denied making any such comment.
(With PTI inputs)