In New Row After Mamata Banerjee's Apology, A Jibe At PM Over BJP Remarks

After West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee apologised for colleague Akhil Giri's remarks on the President, Trinamool MP Abhishek Banerjee wondered if BJP leaders would do the same for MLA Suvendu Adhikari's "derogatory" comment against state minister Birbaha Hansda.

Terming the BJP as an "anti-tribal" party, the Trinamool national general secretary sought to know if BJP chief J P Nadda or Prime Minister Narendra Modi could "walk the talk" like the Chief Minister did.

"Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee apologised for the remarks made by minister Akhil Giri. The Trinamool condemned the statements made by Mr Giri. What about derogatory comments made by Suvendu Adhikari against Birbaha Hansda? Will Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Saha or BJP president J P Nadda ever apologise for Suvendu's horrendous statement against Birbaha Hansda? Can they walk the talk like Mamata Banerjee?" he said.

The Trinamool on Monday released a video in which the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, was purportedly heard making remarks against state minister from the Scheduled Tribes (ST) community, Birbaha Hansda.

PTI could not independently verify the authenticity of the video.

In the 11-second video clip shared by the Trinamool on its Twitter handle, Mr Adhikari was purportedly heard telling a group of people, "Those who are sitting there are kids. This Debnath Hansda and Birbaha Hansda are all kids; their place is beneath my shoe."

However, Mr Adhikari, when approached by a TV channel, denied making any such comment.

Mr Giri, the minister of state for correctional homes, faced flak recently for his remarks on the looks of President Droupadi Murmu. After a video clip of his comments went viral, he apologised for it.

Talking about the occasional claims by BJP leadership of unprecedented political developments in the state in December, the senior Trinamool leader said that Mr Adhikari might not be left with 30 MLAs by the end of the year.

"I want to tell him that he won't be left with even 30 MLAs by December. However, we don't break parties. Had we one that, BJP's game would have been long over," he said.

December has assumed significance in Bengal's political landscape over the past few months with several BJP leaders, including Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, stating on occasions that the Trinamool would cease to exist when the year draws to a close.

The BJP won 77 seats in the assembly polls in 2021. Five BJP MLAs later switched over to the Trinamool. However, the legislators are yet to resign as MLAs.

Meanwhile, reacting to the Trinamool MP's comments, the BJP said they prove that the party stands by Mr Giri's conduct.

"The Trinamool is trying to divert attention from the issue of Akhil Giri. The comment of Suvendu Adhikari and that of Giri cannot be compared," BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)