Trinamul Women Protest: Minister’s Disparagement

In a decisive show of solidarity, Women Trinamul Congress leaders convened at Hazra Park to vehemently protest against the disparaging comments made by Giriraj Singh, Union Minister for Rural Development, targeting Mamata Banerjee.

The meeting, held today at 8:30 am in Kolkata, aimed to condemn Singh’s criticism of Mamata Banerjee’s participation in a dance alongside Bollywood stars during the inaugural function of the Kolkata International Film Festival.

Chandrima Bhattacharya, the President of Trinamul Mahila Congress and Bengal Finance Minister, expressed her discontent, stating, “What Mr. Singh had said is an example of his breeding.

The BJP leaders do not have any respect for women, and they have learned this from their leader Narendra Modi.” Bhattacharya attributed the BJP’s electoral setback in the 2021 Assembly election in Bengal to the people’s rejection of such disrespectful attitudes towards women.

Dr. Shashi Panja, a seasoned party leader and the State Minister for Women and Child Development and Social Welfare, characterized Singh’s comments as not just an insult to Mamata Banerjee but also a reflection of his own character.

She took to Twitter, asserting, “@girirajsinghbjp’s detestable comments are not just an insult to Smt@MamataOfficial but a reflection of his own character.”

In a call for accountability, Dr. Panja urged BJP MLAs in Bengal to apologize on behalf of Giriraj Singh, emphasizing that failure to do so would signify their support for misogyny and endorsement of disrespectful behavior towards women.

Simultaneously, in Delhi, Women Trinamul Congress MPs staged a demonstration at the Mahatma Gandhi statue within the Lok Sabha premises.

Holding placards condemning Singh’s comments, they highlighted the minister’s role in making such derogatory remarks. Mohua Moitra, a Trinamul Congress Lok Sabha MP, asserted that BJP leaders exhibited insecurity and an inability to tolerate women in positions of power.

The demonstration served as a powerful visual condemnation of Singh’s comments, emphasizing the Trinamul Congress’s commitment to standing against misogyny and disrespectful behavior towards women.

The women leaders underscored the need for accountability and respect in political discourse, urging their counterparts in the BJP to take responsibility for Singh’s remarks.

Re-reported from the article originally published in The Statesman