New Delhi: The political banter in West Bengal as a local TMC leader in Murshidabad district was seen threatening opposition of assault if they failed to prove the claims made by them whole holding protests against the rape cases.
The threat was apparently issued in a video that went viral on social media. Another TMC leader Afroz Sarkar who is the president of TMC's Bhagabangola block one committee was also heard saying that "such tricks to dislodge the party from power won't be of any help.”
"If it is a case of rape, the claim has to be proved. If you (opposition) don't do that and cross barriers, we will beat you with sticks to silence you," Sarkar apparently said in the unverified video, reported news agency PTI.
"I am not scared of anyone. Our leader Mamata Banerjee may not have a son of her own, but I am her son," he added.
West Bengal has been facing a political storm after the son of a local Nadia leader was arrested for alleged involvement in a minor girl’s rape case.
Meanwhile, the opposition is targeting the ruling TMC for the recent incidents in the state including the Birbhum violence and the alleged deterioration of the law and order situation in the state.
Senior TMC leader and state minister Firhad Hakim said about the video that he was not aware of what exactly happened but the party would never endorse such statements.
He insisted that all stray remarks should not be accorded importance.
"The party does not support such statements. We want law-enforcing authorities to investigate every incident and take necessary action against the guilty, without taking their affiliation into consideration," he said.
Sujan Chakraborty, the CPI(M) central committee member, stated that Sarkar's remarks "reflected the mindset of TMC members".
"The language used by this leader in Murshidabad is not surprising at all; this is the kind of language usually spoken by members of Mamata Banerjee's party. Left activists will not be intimidated by such threats and launch stronger protests against crimes," Chakraborty said.
BJP national vice-president Dilip Ghosh demanded that Sarkar be immediately arrested.
"The TMC is afraid as incidents of attack on women and opposition members have increased in the state, with its activists found involved in most cases," he added.