New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee on Monday tendered apology over state minister Akhil Giri’s comment on President Droupadi Murmu.
Giri drew widespread criticism for making controversial remarks about the President’s looks. The TMC leader, after the video clip of statement went viral, apologised for the mistake.
“Akhil Giri has committed a mistake. I condemn his utterings and apologise on behalf of my party,” Banerjee said, adding “My party has already apologized for it. I have great regard for the President.”
Akhil Giri has committed a mistake. I condemn his utterings and apologise on behalf of my party. My party has already apologized for it. I have great regard for the President. We've cautioned our MLA & if it happens in future then the party will take action: WB CM Mamata Banerjee pic.twitter.com/y7lN0Nyiuv
— ANI (@ANI) November 14, 2022
“We condemn what Akhil Giri said. Beauty can’t be decided by external looks. True beauty lies inside. I am personally very fond of President Murmu. I have great respect for her. I am sorry, I do apologise on behalf of the party,” Banerjee said.
“Somebody has committed a mistake and we are opposing it, we aren’t supporting it. But every day, the language that is being used to make statements and the lying that is continuing is unacceptable,” news agency ANI quoted Banerjee as saying.
What did the Bengal minister say?
In the 17-second video clip, which went viral on Saturday, Giri was heard commenting on the “looks of the President”.
“They (BJP) said that I am not good-looking. We don’t judge anyone by their appearance. We respect the office of the President. But how does our President look?” he said at a meeting in Nandigram on Friday evening.
On Saturday morning, Giri apologised for his remarks. “I didn’t mean to disrespect the 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.”
