In a development perhaps more shocking than that of Trinamool MP Tapas Paul publicly threatening his political foes with murder and rape, Bengal Women’s Rights Commission chairperson Sunanda Mukherjee on Wednesday said the rogue MP case was not worth probing as it would amount to raking up old stories.
When asked as to what the State Commission for Women’s Rights was doing about the case Mukherjee tended to parrot the official Trinamool Congress line saying “it is an old issue, already 4-5 days old.”Insisting that “Purano kasundi ghete kono laabh nei (there is no point in raking up an old story)” she said “we have already communicated our views to the Chief Minister and she will do the needful.”
When reminded that a cognisable offence never died Mukherjee said the Commission knew its work well and would act accordingly. Mukherjee’s statement comes at a time when the nation is witnessing an uproar and the National Commission for Women demanding immediate expulsion of Paul from the lok Sabha.
Curiously Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who had expressed ‘deep shock’ within hours of a video clipping showing Paul threatening the CPI(M) workers from a public meeting with murder and their women with rape later she burst out on the media accusing it for hatching conspiracy against Paul and his party by peddling stinking stories.
Soon after party spokes person and MP Darek O’brien said “the matter ends now” as Paul had extended his unconditional apologies to the party.
Mukherjee’s statement was greeted with widespread criticism from the civil society even as writer Nabanita Deb Sen saying “the stand taken by the State Women’s Commission is more dangerous than that of Tapas Paul because after what its chief said there is no body left for the women of the State to look up to if they are attacked by the people like this MP.”
Meanwhile, in an apparent bid to avoid embarrassment the Chief Minister reportedly advised Paul to absent himself from the lok Sabha for a few days and attend the House only after testing the waters, party sources said.