TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee. file | Photo Credit: PTI
a day after bengal CM Mamata Banerjee apologizes for colleague Akhil Giri’s remarks On the President, TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday wondered whether the BJP leader would do the same for MLA Shubhendu Adhikari’s “derogatory” remarks against minister Birbaha Hansda.
Terming the BJP an “anti-tribal” party, the TMC national general secretary sought to know whether BJP chief JP Nadda or Prime Minister Narendra Modi can “walk the talk” like CMs.
“Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee apologized for the remarks made by Minister Akhil Giri. TMC condemned the statements made by Mr. Giri. What about the derogatory remarks made by Shubhendu Adhikari against Birbaha Hansda? Will Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Saha or BJP President JP Nadda ever apologized for Mr. Suvendu’s appalling statement against Birbaha Hansda? Can they talk like Mamata Banerjee?” They said.
The TMC on Monday released a video in which Leader of the Opposition Shubhendu Adhikari was heard allegedly making remarks against Minister of State for ST community Birbaha Hansda.
PTI Could not independently verify the authenticity of the video.
In an 11-second video clip shared by the TMC on its Twitter handle, Mr Adhikari was purportedly heard telling a group of people, “Those who are sitting there are children. These are Debnath Hansda and Birbaha Hansda is all children, they have a place. Under my shoes.”
However, Mr. Adhikari, when contacted by a TV channel, denied making any such comment.
Minister of State for Reforms Home Affairs Shri Giri recently faced criticism for his remarks on the appearance of President Draupadi Murmu. He apologized for it after a video clip of his comments went viral.
Talking about the BJP leadership’s topical claims of unprecedented political developments in the state in December, the senior TMC leader said Mr Adhikari may not be left with 30 MLAs by the end of the year.
He said, “I want to tell them that by December they do not even have 30 MLAs left.
December has assumed significance in Bengal’s political scene over the past few months, with several BJP leaders, including Leader of the Opposition Shubhendu Adhikari, saying on such occasions that the TMC would cease to exist by the end of the year.
BJP won 77 seats in 2021 assembly elections. Five BJP MLAs later switched to TMC. However, the MLAs are yet to resign from the post of MLA.
Meanwhile, reacting to the TMC MP’s comments, the BJP said they prove that the party stands by Mr Giri’s conduct.
BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said, “TMC is trying to divert attention from the issue of Akhil Giri. The remarks of Shubhendu Adhikari and Mr. Giri cannot be compared.”