The Bharatiya Janata Party and Trinamool Congress continued to trade charges against each other over an objectionable statement by Union minister Giriraj Singh against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Singh stirred up a controversy after he criticised Banerjee for shaking a leg with celebrities at the Kolkata International Film Festival.
The Trinamool Congress registered its protest against the BJP leader’s statement saying “even if he apologises, it's too less.”
The BJP however backed its minister as party leader Suvendu Adhikari said that it was not a personal attack and that the entire state including the Chief Minister have been involved in corruption.
"...It was not a personal attack. The CM & the entire state is steeped in corruption...I support his statement," said Adhikari.
TMC Stages Protest, Shiv Sena Too Speaks Up
Workers of the Trinamool Congress on Thursday staged a protest against Singh for his statement. Members of the TMC Mahila Morcha wore placards and chanted slogans during the protest in Kolkata.
In Delhi, TMC MP Mahua Moitra called out Singh charging the BJP ministers to be “misogynist” and “patriarchal”.
"...Such shameless ministers can say such things against the only woman Chief Minister, that is why this is the condition of India,” she said.
“The BJP Government and BJP ministers are all misogynist and patriarchal, and they dislike women...He should apologise but he is so shameless that he won't..." the TMC MP said.
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi also backed CM Mamata Banerjee saying Singh should apologise for his statement.
"Giriraj Singh's statement reflects the anti-women mindset of the BJP. The way he said about a sitting CM, we are not here to take lessons from him. He should apologise to Mamata Banerjee,” said Chaturvedi.