File: Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee
In face of a censure motion threat in Lok Sabha, Trinamool Congress member Kalyan Banerjee expressed regrets today over his remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lal Bahadur Shastri.
"It was not my intention to insult the Prime Minister or show disrespect to Lal Bahadur Shastriji. I respect both of them. If I have hurt anyone, I express my regret," Mr Banerjee said after Speaker Sumitra Mahajan's invention. Ms Mahajan said he should express regrets though she could not "force" him to do so.
His remarks, Mr Banerjee said, were "in reaction to the BJP general secretary saying 'Bhaag Mamata Bhaag' insulting our leader."
On Tuesday, the BJP had created uproar in Parliament over Mr Banerjee's remarks, made at a rally in Kolkata last week. Calling the remarks offensive, the BJP demanded that the MP render an unconditional apology.
When Mr Banerjee refused to comply, saying he would not apologise for something said outside Parliament, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Pratap Rudy warned that a censure motion would be brought against him.
Today, when the matter was brought up again, after hearing Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu and Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, the Speaker said, "No one becomes small by rendering an apology."
She told Banerjee that since his intention was not to show any disrespect to either Mr Modi or Shastri, he could say a few words and express regret.
Since the beginning of the Winter session, Trinamool Congress has been protesting against the BJP-led government outside Parliament, using props ranging from black umbrellas and shawls to earthen pots and red diaries.
The 'protest-a-day' strategy is reportedly a part of party leader and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee's plan to hit back at the BJP over the crackdown on her party men in the Saradha Ponzi scam. Ms Banerjee alleges that the Centre is using the CBI to target her party.