Rape remark: Tapas Pal's wife apologises, Mamata still silent

Following Trinamool Congress MP Tapas Pal’s rape threat to CPI-M activists, a beleaguered TMC has now decided to hold a meeting on Wednesday chaired by party chief and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee to discuss the future course of action, Times Now reports. Banerjee, however, has not yet reacted to the controversy.

Moreover, Pal’s wife Nandini Pal has apologized for her husband’s rape remarks, saying that he should not have lost his cool. “I apologise for his comment. Of course there is no question of supporting it. But yes I know there is another part of the story, which provoked him to do that. The entire incident had happened long back, what led to such a thing there is another part of the story,” Nandini told reporters.

“On behalf of him, I am saying sorry,” said Nandini.

On Monday, actor and TMC MP Tapas Pal was caught on tape threatening to let loose rapists on CPI-M activists during a speech in Choumaha village of West Bengal.

The MP from Krishnanagar is heard saying, “If anyone from opposition or their wives and sisters are here, then listen up, if any one of your people touch anyone from TMC I will destroy you, I will not spare them. I will send my boys and they will rape people.”

He was also heard saying, “My name is Tapas Pal. If any one touches any TMC person I will make sure they are dead. I walk around with ‘maal’. ‘Maal’ means revolver. If any CPM person touches anyone in the Choumaha village I will make sure they are destroyed. I will burn their houses down.”

Pal went on to say, “I now live in Krishnanagar. No one can harm my workers. A leader is made only because of his workers, and if anyone harms my workers I will kill them. I will pull the trigger myself.”

The comments have been widely condemned and the Congress, BJP and CPI-M have demanded stern action against him, including disqualifying him from Parliament.

(With additional input from PTI)