MANISH GUPTA
Ranchi, Nov 12: Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda on Saturday reacted sharply to the controversial comments by Trinamool Congress (TMC) West Bengal Minister Akhil Giri on the looks of President Droupadi Murmu.
“The manner in which Akhil Giri has made derogatory remarks on the President of the country is condemnable and unfortunate. I strongly condemn it as these statements are disturbing,” Munda said at a press conference at his residence in New Delhi.
It may be noted that a video that went viral shows Akhil Giri while addressing people in Nandigram on Thursday said, “He (BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari) said that I am not good looking. How beautiful is he? We don’t judge anyone by their appearance. We respect the office of the President (of India). But how does our President look?”
Giri’s comments have drawn severe criticism from various quarters. Munda said that it is surprising that he is a minister in the West Bengal government where there is a woman chief minister. Members of her cabinet are openly making such indecent remarks on the female tribal President of the country, he said.
“It is clear that this is in the character of TMC. The Government of West Bengal has been exploiting the tribals of the country and also the tribals of West Bengal. Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee herself should give an explanation in this matter.
“On whose advice he has given this statement? This statement is an insult to the country. Mamata Banerjee should immediately sack such a minister from her cabinet. And, should apologize to the country for the statements of the TMC leader,” Munda added.
While his party, TMC, has also condemned the minister’s remarks on the President, Giri himself has apologised saying that he respects both the country’s Constitution and the President. “But for the last few days, the kind of remarks made by BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari against me and my looks has left me humiliated and fuming. I am an old man, and by mistake, I have made a remark out of emotional outbursts of my anger. I regret making such a remark,” he said.
