January 19, 2025 11:03 am (IST)
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Tapas Paul let off, Trinamool accepts his apology
Kolkata, July 2 (IBNS): Trinamool Congress on Wednesday said an unconditional apology by its MP Tapas Paul, who threatened in a village the opposition CPI-M women with rape by his boys, has been accepted by the party, effectively letting off the actor-turned-politician facing a nationwide outrage for his remarks.
"The party has accepted his unconditional apology which he did because the party believes that was written in right spirit," party Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien told reporters.
He said the apology in tone, manner and content was in right spirit and "the matter ends there."
O'Brien said Paul tendered the unconditional apology in a letter to the party, women of West Bengal and media and everyone else.
While Trinamool Congress forgave Paul, the Opposition was livid.
Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat said the matter may be closed for Trinamool Congress but not for the law of the land.
She said: "This is not a party versus party issue, it is TMC versus democracy issue. TMC elected members and leaders have been inciting violence against opposition and it has not be limited to words. I have first time seen that a member of parliament is promoting rape culture"
Paul earlier in his apology said: "Some remarks made by me in the heat and dust of the election campaign have caused dismay and consternation. I apologise unreservedly for them. Whatever the provocation -- and there was an attempt at provocation -- those comments should never have been made.
"In making them, I have let down my constituents and the people of Bengal, I have let down my party, the Trinamool Congress, and my political colleagues, I have let down my family, including my wife and children and my parents, and my friends. I apologise to all of them, and particularly to all women in our society and to those in the media who highlighted the issue.
"I have no excuses to offer. It was a gross error of judgement and deeply insensitive. It should not have happened. And I assure you it will not happen again. Once more, a humble apology," said Paul.
While a nationwide outcry has followed demanding punishment of Trinamool Congress MP Tapas Paul who in a public meeting in a village in West Bengal has been caught on camera threatening women of the opposition Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) with rape by his boys, the Union Home Ministry has sought a report from the state on the action taken.
He also threatened to kill people himself with a firearm.
A second video also emerged on Paul's another speech where he also threatened to kill and provoked party members to slit the throat of opposition.
The National Commission for Women has also voiced its anger and demanded criminal action against Tapas Paul. NCW chief Mamta Sharma said Paul should be arrested and sacked from her party by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Paul's wife Nandini has apologized for his remarks and said it was unbecoming of a parliamentarian but tempered her apology saying that Paul had acted under provocation.
"On behalf of him I am saying sorry," said Nandini, adding that there was another part of the story too.
From political opposition to Paul's colleagues from the world of film, his remarks triggered a furore.
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