New Delhi: BJP MP Locket Chatterjee has filed a complaint against West Bengal minister and TMC leader Akhil Giri at Delhi’s North Avenue police station for allegedly using derogatory remarks against President Droupadi Murmu.
Chatterjee has requested for immediate action and registration of FIR against Giri under sections of IPC and SC-ST Act. The BJP MP has also demanded that West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee should give a statement regarding the matter.
Mamata Banerjee should give a statement. Akhil Giri is minister in her govt,she should sack him immediately She should come to Delhi & apologise. They may say a lot on SC-ST community in public but this is the actual sentiment of their ministers: BJP MP Locket Chatterjee in Delhi pic.twitter.com/hHCdIqjXRI
— ANI (@ANI) November 13, 2022
Mamata Banerjee should give a statement on this matter. Akhil Giri is minister in her government, she should sack him immediately, the BJP MP said, adding that the TMC Chief should come to Delhi & apologise.
Union Minister Smriti Irani had also targeted Giri regarding his statement.
What did the Bengal minister say?
Giri on Saturday drew widespread criticism, including from Trinamool Congress, for making controversial remarks on President Droupadi Murmu.
After the video clip of his comments went viral, Giri apologised for making such a remark.
In a 17-second video clip, the TMC leader was heard commenting on the “looks of the President”.
“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 evening.
#WATCH | "We don't judge anyone by their appearance, we respect the office of the President (of India). But how does our President look?," says West Bengal Minister and TMC leader Akhil Giri in Nandigram (11.11.2022) pic.twitter.com/UcGKbGqc7p
— ANI (@ANI) November 12, 2022
Calling the comments “irresponsible”, the TMC distanced itself from Giri’s remarks. “This is an irresponsible comment & does NOT represent the views of @AITCofficial. We are extremely proud of the President of India & hold her & her office in the highest regard,” read the tweet by TMC spokesperson Saket Gokhale.
“I didn’t mean to disrespect the Honourable President. I was replying to what BJP leaders said while verbally attacking me. Every day I am verbally attacked for my looks. If someone thinks I have disrespected the President, then it is wrong. I apologise for making such a remark. I have immense respect for the President of our country,” he told a news channel apologising for his remarks.
