Bhubaneswar: West Bengal Minister and senior TMC leader Akhil Giri has drawn widespread flak from the leaders cutting across party lines in Odisha for his derogatory and controversial statements over the appearance of President Droupadi Murmu.
The BJP has hit the streets with lodging of multiple FIRs at separate police stations across the State demanding stern action and arrest of such an irresponsible minister.
The ST Morcha of Odisha unit of BJP lodged the complaint at Capital Police Station in Bhubaneswar while party MLA Kusum Tete also filed similar FIR in Sundargarh. Bhabani Shankar Bhoi, BJP’s Talsara legislator also registered a police complaint in his constituency seeking exemplary action against Giri.
Party’s Mahila Morcha staged an agitation in front of the Ram Mandir in Bhubaneswar condemning the objectionable remark of the TMC minister. Likewise, party workers and leaders led by national spokesperson Sambit Patra protested the WB minister by burning his effigy in Nayagarh.
The BJD and Congress too came down heavily on the Mamata Banerjee-led party leader for trying to malign the image of the President of India.
BJD’s Rajya Sabha member Munna Khan strongly condemned the remarks made by the Minister. “He (Giri) doesn’t deserve to remain in the chair of a minister. Nobody has the rights to use any derogatory statements against the highest position of the country. The minister in question should be suspended from his party and government,” Khan demanded.
Veteran Congress Leader and MLA Suresh Routray also lambasted the minister of state for Correctional Homes (WB) for making unpleasant statement against the President in public.
“The statement really hurts every citizen of India especially Odisha. He made such remarks over the black complexion of the President. His party leader and CM Mamata Banerjee is not also of fair complexion. Then she should not be the Chief Minister of West Bengal. Akhil Giri should immediately step down as a minister,” Routray said.
Describing Giri as mad minister, BJP MLA Kusum Tete who registered an FIR in Sundargarh, said that being a people’s representative, Giri should not speak something against the President.
“It is unacceptable. He should not forget that his CM is also a woman. I would like to request the West Bengal Chief Minister to suspend him. I also lodged a complaint with police seeking his arrest,” said Tete.
On the other hand, the minister, under pressure from several quarters, has tendered apology saying that he has immense respect for the President of India.
“I didn’t mean to disrespect the Honourable President. I was replying to what BJP leaders said while verbally attacking me. Every day I am verbally attacked for my looks. If someone thinks I have disrespected the President, then it is wrong. I apologise for making such a remark. I have immense respect for the President of our country,” he told a news channel.
A video that went viral on social media purportedly showed Giri speaking something against the President over her appearance.
In the video, Giri was heard saying at a rally in Nandigram on Friday “They (BJP) said that I am not good-looking. We don’t judge anyone by their appearance. We respect the office of the President (of India). But how does our President look?”.
