Nadda prod forces Dilip Ghosh to offer qualified apology to Mamata

More than 24 hours after MP and senior BJP leader from Dilip Ghosh made unsavoury remarks about Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee, the Central BJP leadership, mindful of the damage it could cause in poll-bound West Bengal, issued a showcause notice to its veteran leader who was forced to issue an apology, even though it was a qualified one.

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In the showcause letter written in Hindi, Jagat Prakash Nadda, the BJP president. wrote: “Your (Dilip Ghosh) comment is indecent, unparliamentary and against the tradition of our party. The party strongly condemns such comments.” The BJP also sought an explanation from Dilip Ghosh on this issue.

On Wednesday, Ghosh was heard mocking the family background of Banerjee in a video clip that the Trinamool Congress lost no time in circulating and making a huge issue out of it. Leader after leader slammed the BJP leader in press conferences and on social media. The Trinamool Congress also sent a 10-member team of leaders to lodge a formal complaint with the Election Commission against Ghosh for his comments, alleging that it violated the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).

Citing the clause under the poll code, which states that “no political party or candidate should indulge in any activities or make any statements that would amount to an attack on the personal life of any person or statements that may be malicious or offend decency and morality”, the ruling party in West Bengal urged the Election Commission to immediately take action against BJP MP Dilip Ghosh.

“Mr Ghosh’s comments not only cross the boundaries of decency but also perpetuate a culture of misogyny and disrespect towards women in positions of power,” the letter to the poll body read.