Barely a few weeks after the outrage vented over the Badaun gang-rape, a video has emerged where leading Trinamool Congress (TMC) politician Tapas Pal is seen threatening to rape women belonging to the opposition party.
The video which is allegedly said to be a few weeks old shows Pal screaming threats of violence at rival party workers at Krishnanagar. In the same speech he is shown threatening to rape women as well. 'If CPM tries to kill and intimidate our workers here, I will not spare them. I will send my boys and get CPI women raped if necessary."
Pal however denies the allegation and has said in a TV interview that he said 'raid' and not 'rape'. 'I never used the word rape, I said raid instead', he said according to reports.
The entire video has captured Pal making threats of violence against CPM workers. He even brags about about being a gunda (thug) and carrying a revolver. 'I move around with a revolver. I will pull the trigger myself.
'I have been a gunda. I have fooled around myself', he is seen yelling at the crowd.
So far TMC supremo, and West Bengal's Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has kept mum over the issue.
TMC's Derek 'OBrien has responded to the issue and said that the party absolutely doesn't endorse Pal's statements.
He even tweeted over the issue, subtly decrying his party member's act.
Meanwhile West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee said, "Where did he say this? I will have to check. If he has said this, then the party does not support such remarks."
Congress' Pradeep Bhattarchary however has demanded that Mamata take action. He said, "I cannot believe herself being a woman how Mamata Banerjee can allow a man like Tapas Pal to be in the party. He should be sacked immediately."
Manish Tewari also said that violence has no place in politics and condemned the issue.
Kiran Bedi said that the onus was on Mamata Banerjee to sack Pal from the party.
Paul is a Bengali actor turned politician from Krishnanagar constituency of West Bengal
(With Agency Inputs)
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