Dilip Ghosh, West Bengal state president of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has tried his best to clarify his statement against state chief minister and TMC chief, Mamata Banerjee.
Mr Ghosh had targetted Banerjee at a rally earlier this week, and asked her to wear “bermudas”, instead of sarees. He was commenting upon the chief minister’s injured foot being visible during her rallies.
“In West Bengal, our mothers and sisters wear saree. Saree is a symbol of decency. But it is not proper that someone deliberately shows her foot — again and again in public meetings — while wearing a saree. Even women are not liking this. I have questioned this…it does not seem proper in Bengal’s culture. The CM speaks a lot about Bengali culture…We do not expect such behaviour from the CM,” Ghosh told News18 in his defense.
He added, “My comment is not an insult of women. In fact, she has insulted our culture and I have protested against it. There is no controversy; no clarification needed. I have said it in a public meeting.”
TMC MP Nusrat Jahan wrote, “Misogyny & the need to control women as per the wishes of men is so deeply embedded in @BJP4India leaders that it’s a matter of national concern now. @DilipGhoshBJP previously abused our CM @MamataOfficial in a public meeting. Now this.”
Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim responded to Mr Ghosh’s comments and tweeted on Thursday, “If the only sitting female CM in the country can be disrespected so brazenly, am afraid to imagine what they can say about our daughters!”