The Trinamool Congress on Wednesday came down heavily on Union minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Giriraj Singh for his objectionable remark against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The BJP leader made the controversial remark over Bengal CM shaking a leg with the Bollywood celebrities during Kolkata International Film Festival.
Reacting to the statement, West Bengal minister and TMC leader Shashi Panja said that the party has registered a “very strong protest” calling out the BJP for its “regressive attitude.”
"AITC is registering a very strong protest against the remarks of Union Minister Giriraj Singh. The regressive attitude of the BJP is reflected in the Union Minister's remark," she said while speaking to reporters on Wednesday.
"We are full of anger...we would ask the BJP, who gave you the right to disrespect a woman? Giriraj Singh is a Union Minister holding a position of responsibility...the way he said such an inappropriate thing, even if he apologises, it's too less,” she added.
Meanwhile, Singh said that his criticism was towards the Bengal CM attending film festival while the state is suffering from poverty, unemployment, and corruption.
"You can see my tweet, I have said that Mamata Didi, the state that is suffering from corruption and where the rights of the poor are being snatched, you're making 'Jashn' there. Is saying 'Jashn' similar to thumka," he said.
"The people of TMC are trying to raise this issue to create confusion in people. This is my right to say that there's poverty, unemployment and corruption and the CM was present in the Film festival," the Union minister added.
Targeting Singh, TMC MP Mahua Moitra said, "It is not your place to tell us what is 'uchit' and what is not. Mamata Banerjee is 'Maa Kali personified'. "
"She is the only lady CM in India and people of Bengal have elected her not once, not twice, but thrice," she added.
The BJP came up with a counter statement to the TMC’s reaction alleging Mamata Banerjee’s party of disrespecting women.
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"We need to learn from Mamata Banerjee and TMC, how to disrespect women. The way they have disrespected our President Droupadi Murmu, we have all seen that," said BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul.
On dancing with the celebrities, Mamata Banerjee said she doesn't know how to dance and it was just a "step" she did during the event.
"I don't know how to dance, I dance with tribals to support them," said the Bengal CM while speaking to reporters before departing for an official trip to north Bengal.
"They (Bollywood actors) pulled my hand and asked me to join, so I obliged. We respect Bollywood so this is just a step, nothing else, but it's good to meet everybody," she said.