Senior CPI(M) MLA Anisur Rahman’s derogatory and distasteful remark about chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday triggered a political storm in the state. The ruling Trinamul Congress was up in arms against Mr Rahman, trying to move a privilege motion in the Assembly and filing a defamation case in the Calcutta high court.
Embarking on a damage-control exercise, a deeply-embarrassed CPI(M) leadership made Mr Rahman offer unconditional apology. On Tuesday, the peasants’ wing of the CPI(M) had organised a rally at Itahar in North Dinajpur in North Bengal. Addressing the rally, Mr Rahman had launched a scathing attack against the state government for the rise in rape cases in the state.
Attacking the chief minister for her decision to give `20,000 as compensation to a rape victim, Mr Rahman made a remark which was extremely disparaging and denigrating and which could not be reproduced here. The deputy leader in the Assembly and industries minister Partha Chatterjee said that his party will bring a privilege motion against Mr Rahman.
Sources said that the party’s all-India general secretary Mukul Roy will file a defamation case in the Calcutta high court.
Taking strong exception, Mr Chatterjee said that no civilised person could have made such a vulgar comment which Mr Rahman had against the chief minister. “Even after losing power after 35 years, the CPI(M) leaders have not taken any lesson. Unable to take on Mamata Banerjee politically, the CPI(M) leaders have resorted to this level of character assassination,” he added.
Mr Chatterjee gave a notice to Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee expressing his decision to move a privilege motion against Mr Rahman who is an MLA from Domkal in Murshidabad district.
“Along with the notice, I have also handed over to the Speaker a CD of his speech and the newspapers cuttings of the rally,” Mr Chatterjee added.