TMC MLA faces heat after "living effigies" comment

Trinamool Congress MLA Dr Nirmal Majhi has courted controversy by wondering whether people should burn "living effigies" of doctors affiliated to CPI(M)'s medical wing.
A video footage aired today in a Bengali news channel showed Majhi saying: "They (CPI-M backed doctors) can burn effigies of Mamata Banerjee. But when they will be caught by people, we don't know whether their effigies will be burnt or living effigies will be burnt."
Majhi, president of Trinamool backed Progressive Doctors Association, alleged that North Bengal Medical College and Hospital principal Dr Anup Kumar Roy, who was suspended following the outbreak of encephalitis in north Bengal on August 4, was irregular in attending office.

"Roy is a leader of CPI(M)'s Association of Health Service Doctors. He used to attend office only for two days and remain in Kolkata for the rest of the five days (in a week," the footage showed him saying at a programme.
The Association of Health Service Doctors has been protesting against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's decision to suspend a few health officials following the outbreak of encephalitis in north Bengal.
Majhi's comment came a month after film actor turned Trinamool Congress MP Tapas Paul threatened to kill opposition CPI(M) workers and have their women raped if a single ruling party worker was attacked. The comment triggered an outrage forcing him to tender an apology.

Majhi's comment too had created a furore as opposition parties lashed out at Trinamool leadership for keeping mum.

"The comment shows the political culture of Trinamool. It is really a shame that this is the real face of political change in Bengal. It also proves the company Nirmal Majhi keeps," state BJP president Rahul Sinha said.
"It is really a shame that Trinamool leaders are making such comments and that too against doctors, who are considered semi god in our society," state Congress president Adhir Chow dhury said.
CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty too condemned the remark and wondered whether the administration would take any action against the MLA for making such provoking statements.