Kolkata: BJP MP Dilip Ghosh’s ‘father’ taunt at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has blown into a major controversy, with the Trinamool Congress (TMC) complaining to the Election Commission and terming it as “an insult to women”.
On late Tuesday evening, BJP issued a show-cause notice to Ghosh, seeking an explanation for his remark against the TMC supremo. “Your comments are unparliamentary and against the ideology of BJP. The party condemns such comments. Upon the instructions from party chief J.P. Nadda, you are asked to explain your comment immediately,” the notice said.
This was after a video appeared on social media in which the former state BJP chief says: “Didi goes to Goa and says, ‘I am Goa’s daughter’, then goes to Tripura and says, ‘I am Tripura’s daughter’. Decide who is your father. It is not good to be just anybody’s daughter.”
It came as a huge embarrassment to the Bharatiya Janata Party, which was attacking Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate’s purported ‘sexist’ remark against BJP’s Mandi Lok Sabha candidate and actor Kangana Ranaut.
Known for putting his foot in his mouth repeatedly — be it ‘gold in cow milk’ remark or, ‘bermuda’ barb, Ghosh has seemingly given a fodder to the TMC to deflect the row surrounding the reports of alleged sexual assault in Sandeshkhali.
“I don’t have personal enmity against the honourable Chief Minister. I have responded to her political comments. If the party has found it unconstitutional, I am sad. I will send my official response,” Ghosh told ThePrint Wednesday.
The ruling Trinamool Congress has raised a storm against Ghosh for his objectionable comments against the Chief Minister. A 10-member delegation lodged a complaint Tuesday against the BJP MP to the poll panel.
“Take immediate action against Mr. Dilip Ghosh for blatant violation of the MCC and making such distorted and disrespectful statements against Hon’ble Chief Minister of West Bengal,” reads the letter accessed by ThePrint.
“The women of West Bengal are listening to these distasteful comments, they will respond with their votes against Dilip Ghosh. Those who insult women, they cannot be forgiven. I urge the voters of Burdwan-Durgapur not to vote for Dilip Ghosh,” TMC minister Chandrima Bhattacharya told ThePrint.
Even a section of BJP leaders have condemned the comment and urged the party brass to ensure a course correction for Ghosh that could impact the party’s image in a polling year and, in turn, affect its electoral outcome in an all-out fight with the TMC in Bengal.
“This isn’t the first time Dilip Ghosh has triggered a controversy with his comments. It’s happened in the past. While Ghosh is straightforward, his words could hurt the party in Bengal and are best avoided. He shouldn’t have said anything against the CM, not when elections are upon us,” said a senior BJP leader.
Former Megahalya Governor Tathagatha Roy, who himself is known to not mince his words, took to social media to warn the party about making “absurd” comments.
“Some candidates of West Bengal BJP need political training. There is no need to change candidates for that. But one has to be careful not to get carried away by the excitement and say something against the party policy or ridiculous absurdity. Such danger happened in 2021,” he tweeted Tuesday, indirectly without naming Dilip Ghosh or PM Modi’s infamous ‘Didi-o-Didi’ taunt.
Political analyst Snigdhendu Bhattacharya, too, felt Ghosh’s jibe could be damaging for the party in Bengal. “Just at a time when BJP is highlighting women’s issues, releasing a telephone conversation between PM Modi and Basirhat candidate Rekha Patra as part of their campaign, Ghosh’s remarks are damaging for the party’s campaign plan. This is precisely why Arun Singh has promptly show-caused him,” he told ThePrint.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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