Kolkata: Even as the Opposition has been demanding West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to take action against Tapas Pal for his controversial 'rape remark', the Trinamool Congress leader apologised on Tuesday saying that his comment was a 'gross error of judgement and deeply insensitive'.
In his letter marked to chairperson, AITC and the media among others, Pal said that he had let down his 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,” he said.
He further wrote that his apology was particularly to “all women in our society and to those in the media who highlighted the issue.”
Following is the full text of his letter which was also posted by the TMC on the micro-blogging site Twitter -
Tapas Pal's letter to party | http://t.co/Cymx9UN2BX
— AITC (@AITCofficial) July 1, 2014 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.
Meanwhile, senior TMC leader Mukul Roy said today that Mamata Banerjee had always stood by prosecuted women and that she was pained by what had happened.
He added that the party would make sure that such 'incidents' were not repeated again.
Everything has a process. It has been initiated by seeking Tapas pal's explanation as per the orders of the Chairperson: Mukul Roy
— AITC (@AITCofficial) July 1, 2014
Mamata Banerjee has in the past always stood by persecuted women. We hold high regards for women: Mukul Roy
— AITC (@AITCofficial) July 1, 2014
This was a shocking incident. Party will ensure this kind of incident does not happen again: Mukul Roy
— AITC (@AITCofficial) July 1, 2014
Trinamool Chairperson was pained and shocked to hear his comments. He was asked to issue an unconditional apology to the public: Mukul Roy
— AITC (@AITCofficial) July 1, 2014 In a video which was aired by various television channels yesterday, Pal was heard openly threatening to send 'his boys' and get women of Opposition party raped. He was also heard saying that if need be he would not hesitate to use guns against his opponents.
“If anyone from the Opposition dares to touch any woman then I will send my boys and get women of CPI(M) raped,” Pal told a gathering reportedly in his constituency Krishnanagar.
He also said that he roamed around with 'maal' (revolver) and would not hesitate to use it on his opponents.
Pal went further and among other things boasted that he is a 'goonda' (hooligan).
The speech shown in the video is apparently six to seven weeks old.
First Published: Tuesday, July 01, 2014, 18:42
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