“BJP leaders find it incredibly hard to fathom a woman in power”: TMC points fingers at Giriraj Singh for alleged “degrading comments” about Mamata Banerjee

The Trinamool Congress on Wednesday claimed that BJP Union Minister Giriraj Singh has allegedly made “degrading comments” about TMC Supremo Mamata Banerjee.

In a video posted on X by the official handle of TMC, Union Minister Giriraj Singh can be heard saying to a reporter that celebrating and dancing in the film festival is not appropriate for Mamata Banerjee, referring to videos from the opening ceremony of Kolkata International Film Festival where the Bengal CM can be seen dancing along with Salman Khan and other actors. “Mamata Banerjee is living in a third world. The Whole of Bengal is suffering from corruption. The poor’s rights are being snatched. But she is doing ‘thumka’ (dance steps) with Salman Khan at the festival… What is the need to dance in the festival? She could have sat in her chair, but she is celebrating while people are dying from poverty,” Mr. Singh was heard saying in the video, making certain gestures.

The video was shared by West Bengal Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari. Taking to X, Adhikari wrote, “Nero fiddled while Rome burnt ! WB CM is Nero 2.0. She is dancing as WB is reeling under tremendous financial burden & limitless corruption !!!”

Equating the alleged statement to Prime Minister’s alleged “didi o didi catcall” from BJP’s Bengal Election Campaign 2021, the official handle of TMC wrote on X, “After PM @narendramodi's "didi o didi" catcall, Union Minister @girirajsinghbjp now joins the list of @BJP4India leaders who made degrading comments about Smt. @MamataOfficial. It's evident that the BJP leaders find it incredibly hard to fathom a woman in power challenging their authority. Their archaic mindset, steeped in gender biases, is blatantly on display."

Taking a jibe at BJP National General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya, TMC wrote on X, “It is hardly surprising for a party, whose Nat'l GS  @KailashOnline  shamefully equated girls in "skimpy clothes" to "Surpanakha", to harbour such a regressive attitude.” In April 2023, Kailash Vijayvargiya said in an event that the kind of clothes some women wear make them look like ‘Surpanakha’ (sister of the demon King Ravana from the epic Ramayana) and not like goddesses.

Speaking to reporters, TMC Leader Shashi Panja said, “We are very angry… we would ask the BJP, who gave you the right to insult women? Giriraj Singh belongs to a respectable post… even an apology would not be enough.” She added that Giriraj Singh is also the one responsible for releasing 100-days work wages, referring to the ongoing tussle between the West Bengal State government and the Central Government over said funds.

TMC MP Mahua Moitra also took to X, to slam the Union Minister, calling misogyny the culture of the BJP. “You are telling Mamata Banerjee what is uchit (appropriate)? Let us tell you what is uchit and anuchit (inappropriate). It is not uchit that you deprive lakhs and crores of people in Bengal of their rightful MNREGA dues that you and your ministry have withheld,” said the Krishnanagar MP. Alleging that the Central government has withheld Awas Yojana money, Moitra said that Singh should not declare what is appropriate and what is not.