Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], September 8 : BJP National Spokesperson CR Kesavan has strongly condemned TMC MLA Abdur Rahim Bakshi's reported remarks threatening to "pour acid" into BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh's mouth saying that such violent and abrasive statements have no place in a civilised democracy.
He further said that such statements reflect the mindset and violent culture of the TMC and the people of West Bengal will give a fitting lesson to Mamata Banerjee's misrule and the TMC in the future.
Speaking to ANI, Kesavan said, "Does the TMC now denote 'Tushtikaran' mentality culture? This is what the people of West Bengal and the people of India are asking, and this is because in recent times, TMC leaders have been using anarchic language, especially in the context of TMC's appeasement politics on illegal infiltration and in the context of illegal infiltration... violent and abrasive statements by the TMC leaders have no place in a civilised democracy, they are the most condemnable and reprehensible. It again reflects the mindset and violent culture of the TMC and the people of West Bengal will give a fitting lesson to Mamata Banerjee's misrule and the TMC in the coming days."
Earlier today, Abdur Rahim Bakshi issued a clarification after sparking a controversy with his reported remarks threatening to "pour acid" into BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh's mouth.
Bakshi said his comments were in response to Ghosh's alleged statement in the Assembly that "all migrant workers are Rohingya and Bangladeshi." He argued that such remarks insulted Bengalis.
"...In the Vidhan Sabha, a BJP MLA made a statement that all migrant workers are Rohingya and Bangladeshi. This is completely false. We're Indians, we're Bengalis... How could he say that? He insulted Bengalis and Bengal... That's why I made that statement. A Bengali MLA can't say such things against Bengalis. That's why I suggested pouring acid down his throat, so his throat closes and he never says these things again," Bakshi told ANI.
BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh strongly condemned the remarks, questioning Bakshi's legitimacy as a legislator, and likening the situation in West Bengal to a "Taliban regime".
"I don't know whether they are called MLAs or criminals... You can judge how Mamata Banerjee runs this state by this MLA's statement that he will pour acid on the BJP MLAs... The hooliganism spread all over West Bengal can be compared with the Taliban regime. Mamata Banerjee is trying to establish such a regime through appeasement politics and muscle power... These TMC MLAs like Rahim Bakshi are always threatening to kill us... Such threats will not stop us from working for the people and opposing their government," Ghosh said.
TMC MLA Bakshi's remarks drew criticism from both the BJP and the Congress.