Kalyan Banerjee reacts to TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar’s ‘verbal abuse’ allegations: ‘They are acting with a motive’ | Today’s news
Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kalyan Banerjee on Thursday hit out at party colleague Kakoli Ghosh over her allegations that he verbally abused her in the Lok Sabha. He questioned why she raised the issue late and suggested there was a hidden agenda behind the complaint.
Addressing a press conference, Banerjee said that if such an incident had indeed taken place, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha should have been informed immediately as per parliamentary rules. He further alleged that Ghosh made the allegations with a specific motive.
“Once something happens on the floor, the speaker must be informed immediately, that’s the rule. Any incident must be reported to the Speaker immediately. As far as the allegations are concerned, the question is who said what and when. The problem is their intentions. They seem to be acting with a motive, which raises my doubts,” Kalyan said, according to ANI.
Kakoli Ghosh’s complaint against Kalyan Banerjee in a letter to Speaker LS
The development comes after Dastidar wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday seeking permission to lodge a formal complaint against Banerjee’s partner party. In her letter, she accused Banerjee of repeatedly verbally assaulting her in the Lok Sabha.
Dastidar urged the Speaker to intervene and take appropriate action, claiming that Banerjee’s behavior reflected misogynistic behavior and was not directed at her alone.
“I seek your permission to file a formal complaint for redressal against AITC Lok Sabha member Kalyan Banerjee who repeatedly verbally assaulted me in the Lok Sabha,” she mentioned.
Expressing concern over the treatment of women in parliament, Dastidar said the alleged behavior was part of a wider pattern and called for strict action.
“This misogyny was against many ladies and it must be punished,” mentioned Dastidar in her complaint to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
Dastidar’s resignation as president of All India Trinamool Mahila Congress
Meanwhile, she resigned as president of the All India Trinamool Mahila Congress, citing concerns over alleged “misogynistic behaviour” in the party and several issues that she said deeply troubled her conscience.
In her resignation letter, Dastidar said that she was stepping down as president of the All India Trinamool Mahila Congress as well as all other organizational posts, committees and responsibilities in the party.
Kalyan Banerjee appointed Chief Whip of TMC in Lok Sabha
On 14 May, Mamata Banerjee, the former chief minister of West Bengal, appointed Kalyan Banerjee as the chief whip of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the Lok Sabha, replacing Dastidar during a meeting of party MPs, in a move that underscored the continued importance of loyalty and political influence in the party.
The announcement was made at Mamata Banerjee’s residence in Kalighat, where the TMC leadership called for solidarity and determination as it works to strengthen its parliamentary team after a difficult electoral battle that ended the party’s long and uninterrupted stay in power.
