This Article is From Dec 09, 2014

'Apologise For Insulting PM Modi,' BJP Tells Mamata Banerjee's Party Man

'Apologise For Insulting PM Modi,' BJP Tells Mamata Banerjee's Party Man

File: Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee

New Delhi: Allegedly offensive words used for Prime Minister Narendra Modi by a Trinamool Congress MP led to angry exchanges in Parliament today. The BJP has demanded an apology from Kalyan Banerjee, who had criticized PM Modi at a public meeting in Bengal.

"He should apologise to the nation for speaking about PM Modi in an undignified manner," the BJP said during a heated argument in the Lok Sabha.

Describing the comments as "totally unacceptable language", Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said Mr Banerjee would set a "good precedent" by apologizing.

"I would request the member to apologise as the kind of language used against the prime minister of the country is wrong," said Mr Naidu.

Mr Banerjee said he would not apologise in the house for something he said outside Parliament.

BJP parliamentarian SS Ahluwalia had earlier said if Mr Banerjee didn't apologise, a resolution should be passed against him.

"People from the ruling party in West Bengal are talking about the prime minister in an undignified manner. This needs to be stopped. The nation will not tolerate this," Mr Ahluwalia said, and he was backed by leaders of the CPM.

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said though nobody could be forced to apologise, members should always remember their limits.

For days, the Trinamool has been on the offensive with its MPs routinely protesting outside Parliament against the government, using innovative props ranging from black umbrellas and shawls to earthen pots and red diaries.

The 'protest-a-day' strategy is  reportedly part of their leader Mamata Banerjee's plan to hit back at the ruling BJP over the crackdown on her party men in the Saradha chit fund scam. Ms Banerjee alleges that the Centre is using the CBI to target her party.
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