Mamata calls Tapas Pal's speech 'big blunder' even as he tenders apology

TMC chief Mamata Banerjee has finally broken her silence over the outrage surrounding TMC MP Tapas Pal’s controversial video saying he committed a big blunder. Times Now quoted Mamata Banerjee as saying, “We have asked for his unconditional apology and explanation. He made a big blunder.” Mamata’s statement comes after then Trinamool Congress MP had already tendered an unconditional apology following his threat to kill CPI-M workers and having their women raped after he was asked by an embarrassed party leadership to do so following widespread outrage. Zee News reports   that Banerjee reportedly told media persons, when asked as to what action would be taken against Pal, that she could not kill him for what he had said.   Pal was shown in a video footage on a vernacular TV news channel yesterday, saying, “If any CPI-M man is present here. Listen to me. If you ever touch any Trinamool Congress worker or their families at Choumaha, you have to pay for this. Don’t try to act smart with me. I am smarter than you…” “… Earlier, you guys have bullied me on various occasions. If you insult the mothers and daughters of Trinamool workers. Then I won’t spare you. I will let loose my boys in your homes and they will commit rape. I will teach each of you a lesson,” the MP had warned. [caption id=“attachment_1598153” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Tapas Pal in a file photo.[/caption] Today, Pal, who is also a Bengali film actor, was apologetic. “Some remarks made by me in the heat and dust of the election campaign have caused dismay and consternation. I apologise unreservedly for them. I have no excuses to offer. It was a gross error of judgement and deeply insensitive. It should not have happened. And I assure you it will not happen again. Once more, a humble apology,” Pal said in a written apology to the Trinamool Congress and the media. Even as the pressure increased on the TMC to take action against Pal, spokesperson Derek O’ Brien today put out a timeline informing the media about how fast the party acted on Pal for his ‘rape comments’ and condemned what the party MP said. “TMC acted fast and with alacrity condemning both the statements (another statement was by party MP Arup Chakraborty asking people to chop intruders into pieces). Our leader Mamata Banerjee condemns the statements and she is deeply pained,” Brien told reporters in Kolkata. “Tapas Pal’s explanation is on the TMC website. It is a three-paragraph detailed explanation. The party is examining if it is enough. The process for disciplinary action has already started,” he said. Earlier, Pal was asked by the TMC leadership to explain his conduct in writing. Another senior party leader and state education minister Partha Chatterjee described Pal’s conduct as baffling. He told reporters outside the Assembly premises, “It is condemnable. Our party leader(Mamata Banerjee) is deeply saddened. He has been cautioned and an explanation has been sought from him. The party does not support this kind of conduct.” Senior TMC leader and Panchayat minister Subrata Mukherjee earlier said that a decision would be taken on what action to be taken at a meeting of party MPs tomorrow (Wednesday) to be presided over by Mamata Banerjee. The Union Home Ministry has sought a detailed report from the state government about Pal’s comments, a Union Home Ministry official said. Here is the full text of Pal’s letter: To​, All of you Some remarks made by me in the heat and dust of the election campaign have caused dismay and consternation. I apologise unreservedly for them. Whatever the provocation – and there was an attempt at provocation – those comments should never have been made. In making them, I have let down my constituents and the people of Bengal, I have let down my party, the Trinamool Congress, and my political colleagues, I have let down my family, including my wife and children and my parents, and my friends. I apologise to all of them, and particularly to all women in our society and to those in the media who highlighted the issue. I have no excuses to offer. It was a gross error of judgement and deeply insensitive. It should not have happened. And I assure you it will not happen again. Once more, a humble apology. Yours sincerely, Tapas Paul​ ​Member of Parliament cc: Chairperson, All Indian Trinamool Congress cc: General Secretary, ​​All Indian Trinamool Congress cc: National Spokesperson, All Indian Trinamool Congress cc: Media​