Trinamool MP's remark draws flak

The BJP on Tuesday demanded Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Kalyan Banerjee to express “regret and unconditional apology” for making “derogatory” remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, threatening to bring a censure motion against him if he failed to do so.

As the issue was raised by BJP member S S Ahluwalia in the Lok Sabha, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu charged that the TMC MP recently said people in 2019 will “slap” Modi and send him back to the lanes of Gandhinagar from where he will never be able to come out.

“This is very serious matter. He is making such remarks against a popular prime minister (Modi) of the country, who is being praised world over; and against our former prime minister who gave this country slogan of ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kissan’,” the Union Minister said.

Threatening to bring a censure motion against Banerjee if he failed to apologise, Naidu said it was not difficult for the government to bring a censure motion against him. “I would appeal to Banerjee to understand the sentiments of the people and also the House, and please express regrets so that we can leave this matter and move forward,” he added.