Indian lawmaker apologises over rape threat

Published July 2, 2014
All India Trinamool Congress Party MP, Tapas Paul greets his supporters during an election campaign in the city of Krishnanagar. — Photo by AFP
All India Trinamool Congress Party MP, Tapas Paul greets his supporters during an election campaign in the city of Krishnanagar. — Photo by AFP

KOLKATA: An Indian lawmaker apologised on Tuesday after he was captured on video threatening the rape of his political rivals’ relatives, in what he said was “a gross error of judgment”.

Tapas Pal of the All India Trinamool Congress party admitted his remarks had caused “dismay and consternation” after initially denying he had made the rape comment.

“I have no excuses to offer. It was a gross error of judgment and deeply insensitive,” Pal, 55, said in a statement.

“It should not have happened. And I assure you it will not happen again,“ he added.

Amid widespread outrage in India over a series of recent high-profile rapes, Pal could be clearly heard bragging of his ability to order attacks against his left-wing opponents.

“If CPI-M (Communist Party of India — Marxist) tries to kill and intimidate our workers... I will not spare them. I will let loose my men to rape your women,” he said in an address to followers in late May which was filmed on a phone.

His comments drew widespread condemnation, including from Trinamool which is the fourth largest party in parliament and whose support is concentrated in the state of West Bengal.

“We do not in any way endorse what he said,” party spokesman Derek O’Brien told reporters, adding that party leader and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was “hopping mad” about the remarks.

Pal, who is also a minor film star in the Kolkata-based movie industry, tried to limit the damage by claiming he had been misquoted.

“I never said rape. I said raid. I said they should raid all the people and places, including women and old,” he told CNN-IBN earlier on Tuesday.

However even his own wife Nandini said the lawmaker was out of line.

“I feel terrible about it. Whatever he has said, it is not right being a member of the parliament,” she told reporters in Kolkata. The head of the National Commission for Women said Pal’s position was now untenable.

“He should resign. This is a very unfortunate statement,” said the commission’s head Mamata Sharma.

“Mamata Banerjee should take action against him — he should be suspended. “Brinda Karat, the leader of the Communists, told reporters that the comments were “completely unacceptable” and Pal “must be suspended” from the Lok Sabha, India’s lower house of parliament.

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2014

Opinion

Editorial

‘Source of terror’
Updated 29 Mar, 2024

‘Source of terror’

It is clear that going after militant groups inside Afghanistan unilaterally presents its own set of difficulties.
Chipping in
29 Mar, 2024

Chipping in

FEDERAL infrastructure development schemes are located in the provinces. Most such projects — for instance,...
Toxic emitters
29 Mar, 2024

Toxic emitters

IT is concerning to note that dozens of industries have been violating environmental laws in and around Islamabad....
Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...