The comments against Roopa Ganguly by Rezzak Mollah had drawn widespread condemnation. (PTI photo)
Highlights
- Rezzak Mollah made misogynistic remarks against BJP's Roopa Ganguly
- Outrage for comments in midst of Bengal elections
- Ms Ganguly, other women leaders say Mamata Banerjee should penalise him
Rezzak Mollah, a leader from Mamata Banerjee's party, has extended his apology to the BJP's Roopa Ganguly for the
misogynistic remarks he hurled at her this week on local television.
"I am really sorry for making personal remarks against Roopa Ganguly, I apologise," said Mr Mollah, who joined the Trinamool Congress in February this year.
His remarks commissioned national outrage from politicians and women leaders of his own party including parliamentarian Moon Moon Sen. The Election Commission has ordered that a police case be filed against him.
Ms Ganguly, who is contesting the election from Howrah North near Kolkata has accused Mr Mollah, once a minister in the Left government, of targeting her to gain easy publicity.
Rezzak Mollah, a former Communist leader, joined the Trinamool Congress in February.
Ms Ganguly famously played Draupadi in the blockbuster television serial Mahabharata. "I know the length of the cigarettes she smokes" and "She really is Draupadi" were among the vicious and offensive remarks made by Mollah.
Ms Ganguly told NDTV yesterday, "This is just one example of what the Chief Minister and her party are doing to the women in Bengal". Women activists including legendary actor Aparna Sen urged Ms Banerjee to prove her commitment to protecting women's rights by penalizing Mr Mollah.
The BJP, Ms Ganguly's party, has complained to the Election Commission and has asked for "the strictest action" against Mr Mollah.
Bengal has completed three of seven days of voting spread over this month and next.
Mr Mollah also attacked his party boss, Chief Minister Banerjee, for what he described as a penchant for selecting celebrity candidates like Moon Moon Sen.
"If there's infighting in the party, they look to give a ticket to some glamorous person - like Moon Moon Sen. What work will Moon Moon Sen do?" he challenged.
Moon Moon Sen's response included sticking out her tongue on camera to dismiss Mr Mollah.
Mr Mollah probably doesn't believe in scriptures or his Marxist ideology, Ms Sen had said.