CPM leader's obscene remark against Mamata Banerjee sparks outrage

Trinamool Congress submitted a notice on breach of privilege against CPI(M) leader Anisur Rahman in the West Bengal Assembly over his comment on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and threatened to slap a legal notice on him while his party too voiced disapproval and said it will seek an explanation from the MLA. BJP and Congress also condemned the remarks.

Party leader Kakoli Ghosh also lashed out at CPM, calling them hooligans.

Counsel for Trinamool Congress, Rajdeep Majumdar, said that a legal notice would be sent to the CPI(M) headquarters and to the CPI(M) leader seeking an unconditional apology within 48 hours.

"If the apology is not tendered, we will file a defamation suit before the appropriate court," Majumdar said.

Rahman, however, later in the evening tendered an apology for his remarks.

"For the last 21 years I have been an MLA in the state. I have never said anything like this before and this will not happen again in future. I apologise before all the people of the state," Rahman, deputy leader of the CPI(M) in the House, said reading out a statement before the media and leaving without taking any question.

CPI(M) state secretary Biman Bose described as 'unwanted and indecent' the remarks by Rehman about Mamata. "The remarks by Anisur Rehman are unwanted and indecent. It is against the political cuture of our party. Our party does not approve such remarks," Bose said in a press statement.

at a public rally where he asked how much Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee would charge to get raped.

Rahman, the Left Front's legislature party deputy leader, made the comments while speaking in Itahar in North Dinajpur district on Tuesday.

Referring to the chief minister's announcement a month ago to give Rs 20,000 to a rape victim, he had said: "This government will do good to all, farmers, workers, rape victims. This is the same Mamata Banerjee who went to South 24 Parganas and brought Champala Sardar to Writers' Building claiming she was raped. She takes up those hala fala girls (girls discarded by society). I told her if you want to bring some girls, bring some good girls. There is no better girl than you. We will give her some medal, or we can give her Rs 20,000. We ask, Didimoni, what is your fee? How much will you take for getting raped?''

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