The National Commission for Women (NCW) today demanded that Trinamool Congress MP Tapas Pal be expelled from Parliament for his "insensitive" remarks which have triggered a row.
Taking a suo-moto cognizance of the media reports and the complaints received from various organizations, NCW has sent a notice to Pal to offer an explanation to the Commission in this matter.
The MP, also a popular Bengali actor, was caught on camera purportedly threatening CPI-M workers that he will "let loose boys in (their) homes and they will commit rape".
"He should be expelled (from Parliament). This is a very unfortunate statement. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been an activist herself and she should show some sensitivity and take action against the MP," NCW chief Mamata Sharma told PTI.
In a separate letter written to Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Benerjee, Sharma has requested her to examine the matter and take necessary action to safeguard the dignity of women in the state as well as in the country.
While strongly condemning the incident, Sharma added that crime against women is on the rise in the country and such remarks and comments have inflammatory effect on the mindset of anti-social elements.
Sharma has also written to the President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking their intervention in this regard.
"Even the Prime Minister should take action in this matter. Such words have never been used by an MP... Pal did not make a statement, he committed a crime," said Sharma.
Various political parties have condemned the remarks by Pal and urged the Lok Sabha Speaker to take suo motu cognisance of the matter.
"Several Trinamool Congress leaders have been making such comments in the last three years as part of a strategy to terrorise opposition parties. The comments he has made are not expected of a parliamentarian. I request the Lok Sabha Speaker to take suo motu cognisance because people look up to Lok Sabha MPs," said CPI(M) MP Mohammed Salim.
The BJP leadership also condemned the statement and asked the West Bengal Chief Minister to look into the matter.
"It is really heart-wrenching to hear such comments from Pal. He has said he was speaking in a fit of rage. But in a fit of rage, MPs should try to restrain themselves from making such comments," BJP MP Babul Supriyo said.
