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As an eruption of outrage on television hit Abhjit Mukherjee, the Lok Sabha MP from Jangipur in Bengal issued an apology and withdrew his remarks. His sister, Kathak exponent Sharmishtha Mukherjee, told The Indian Express she was “shocked and furious”, and that these were not the views of the other members of the President’s family.
Rashtrapati Bhavan declined to comment officially, but Sharmishtha Mukherjee was quoted by PTI as saying she was “sure” that her father did not agree with her brother, and that he would have been embarrassed.
PTI quoted Abhijit Mukherjee as saying the President had asked him to apologise. “As a father, he (the President) also asked me what prompted you to say that. You are in public life and definitely it will create controversy. You must apologise. I said I have already done (so). My intention was not to hurt anyone. Not to undermine the agitation,” the MP said.
The comments which became widely known on Thursday were made by Abhijit Mukherjee in Nalhati (Birbhum) on Wednesday and in his constituency Jangipur on Tuesday.
In Jangipur, he said, “Dilli-te shundor-shundor meyera rong-chong mekhe andolan korte jachchhe... aar kaaj nei, shomoy kata-te jachchhe... (In Delhi, beautiful women are putting on make-up and going out to agitate. They have nothing better to do, so they are going to pass the time.)”
In Nalhati, he said that many of those rushing to the protests in Delhi were not students, “onek activist, rajneeti dhuke porechhe (many activists, politics have entered)”, “Dilli hujug-er jaayga, agitation kaar against-e hochchhe bojha jaaye na (Delhi is a place driven by illogical whims, it is difficult to understand what they are protesting against)”.
He compared the Mamata Banerjee government’s alleged inaction in the Park Street rape case with the quick action taken by Delhi Police in the case of the gangrape of the 23-year-old paramedic. In the context of activist and theatre personality Arpita Ghosh, who is considered close to Mamata, participating in the protest, Abhijit Mukherjee said, “E-shob natak, Dilli’r bhasha-i nautanki... (All this is drama, nautanki is the language of Delhi)”.
PTI also quoted Mukherjee as having told a Bengali TV channel, “Those who are coming in the name of students in the rallies... beautiful women, highly dented and painted, giving interviews and showing off their children... What is basically happening in Delhi is something like a pink revolution, which has very little connection with ground reality.” The report did not say when Mukherjee said this.
Sharmishtha Mukherjee, who is younger than Abhijit and lives in Delhi, said, “I am not a politician, bureaucrat or administrator. But the protests clearly show the volcanic eruption of the people; it reflected their anger and anguish. They had every right to protest. I am speaking like an ordinary woman.
“I am shocked and furious, how could he (Abhijit) come out with such a statement? I am a working woman myself, strong and independent. I have been brought up in a completely different environment, but this is not what our family thinks. This is certainly not the way we (the siblings) have been brought up.”
Bengal Congress leaders expressed dismay over Abhijit’s comments. “I am shocked. We condemn this. Abhijit should never have said this. I will talk to him,” Mohammad Sohrab, leader of the Congress Legislature Party, who was also the election agent of both Abhijit and Pranab Mukherjee, told The Indian Express.
Pradip Bhattacharya, WBPCC chief, said: “I have spoken to him. He should not have made that remark. However he tendered an apology and that should be the end of the matter.”
Social activist Subhasini Ali said the remarks were “atrocious” and “insulting”. Actor Sharmila Tagore called them “very sexist”. CPM’s Brinda Karat said the remarks showed a “sickening and perverted” mentality.
If Pranab Mukherjee does not like his son Abhijit, why did he support him for Kolakatta Legislature and be beged Ticket from Mamata Benerjee. Abhijeet is not a congress man. What sort of a person? He may join CPM at any time
Really a shame on him and his mentality . How a human being can have these types of thoughts .......... its rediculous ..
do he need more media attention which is not bigger advt than recognising as prez son
Never imagined Pranab Mukerjee had a son who was a dud!
Abhijit's unfortunate remarks are in a very poor taste besides being patently mysognistic, chauvanistic,arrogant and stupid. He is totally out of sync with the current idiom of social discourse. If these remarks are true indication of his mindset- and there are no reasons to believe that they ar not-then my suggesstion to the women voters of Jangipur as also those of the male voters who choose to wholeheartedly condemn his remarks would be that they should take a public resolve not to vote for him next time around.
Our leaders doesn't have any self respect. this is reflection of attitude of his father , who was failed FM became President. Congress politics made India poor. Now it is very clear what type of leaders we have in our country. British well said, if they go the power goes to looters, rogues, etc.
Mr. Mukerjee has shown real sick -mental make up that India,s ruling class suffers from. Being in power for a long time these elected representatives have lost total touch with ground level reality. They think they know everything and all other persons are fools. He needs to be taught a lesson for this and strong one at that but how it will happen? I have no hope of any such happening. But how to make these political big-wigs understand common man's pain. May Almighty show the way.
It is a pity that the same media and intellectual fraternity, who fight tooth and nail for freedom of expression and who rallied around a Mumbai girl and sympathized with her when she was forced by Shiv Sainiks to apologize for her facebook comments that allegedly hurt the sentiments of some people, have now forced a person to apologize in public for his alleged remarks against Delhi protestors. Doesn't he have any freedom of expression?
if this man had an aota of shame and/or self-respect, he should have quit his Lokshava seat by now. at least that way he could have saved his father's honor and grace. real shame on him.
Absolutely correct statement. Ninety percent gals when not paid start crting rape.
Don't take a few words out of context and fire him .He said many sensible things too.He said if everyone does his job problem can be solved.He praised prompt action in Delhi and blamed delay in such cases.
GENEOLOGICAL PREROGATIVE IN SELECTION OF CANDIDATE IS REFLECTED IN THIS SON OF ERSTWHILE FINANCE MINISTER CUM PRESENT PRESIDENT OF INDIA.HE IS DELINQUENT,WITH POOR GROOMING,PERHAPS 'SPOILT' CHILD.HIS COMMENTS NECESSITATES USE OF RIGHT TO RECALL HIM FROM LOKSABHA
Poor India in a very bad way with all these stupid people on gouvernements... Poor stupid world! I'm sorry that I'm part of that crazy f...... world!!! God bless us...
As a private citizen, Abhijit is entitled to express views as strike him proper rather than stifle them only because of his family ties with the nation's President and therefore felt compelled to follow the official line. Not wanting to denigrate the genuine anguish felt by many at the aftermath of the brutal attack on the student, one may not disagree with Abhijit's view at the many more whose presence at the demonstration seemed of questionable motives.
I wonder how he would feel and act if his SISTER had been GANGRAPED BRUTALLY IN FULL PUBLIC VIEW and throw out like NAKED. He should first understand pain and sufferings of common man and woman. His mind is that of rapist or he could be one who encourages rapists. A real rapist as MP and his apology is worthless as it did not come out from his heart, but forced to do so by his family. 37 lakhs spend for 1 hour for President!!! All tax payers money. Worthless President who is greedy and does not even minch a word r poor souls. Govt wants money only and comfort r their coffins filled with pot gold, damn govt of any!!!
I agree. His mentality is that of a rapist. These are the men who would commit a rape if they know they can get away with it. His apology means nothing at all.
fater of this pervert prays devi durga religiously (ANOTHER DRAMA) and sons thinking to wards a lady is this.This prooves puza of father is nothing but sheer dramabazi.MR UNFORTUNATE PRESIDENT PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH.
As father as son!Father a boot licker ,son an anarchist,trying to capitalise on human tragedy?What a great nation led by goons
This tells us the humility and humanity of such insensitive people. WHY IS THE PRESIDENT HIS FATHER QUITE?? It shows how this particular selected group think and he is an MP. Has India reached so low that has to scratch the bottom to elect such insensitive people. It shows how much he must respect his mother and sisters or any females. Watching him on TV,one wonders if he is on drugs
It is really shame that I also belong to west bengal. Before making any comment,he shuold think thousand times.
This fellow is the biggest idiot ever seen. The father should reprimand him and teach him some manner
I wonder if his own sister or daughter were raped he would say the same thing! Or is he saying this because the girls is simple non-entity, not an offspring of a president like himself. Shame of him
The Son of President Of India Mr Pranab Mukherjee Mr Abhjit Mukherjee seems to quoted a comment that has created an error and put the masses in dilemma in regard to the protesters against the victim of Gang Rape in the Bus in Delhi. It is really a serious issue that Why a reputed personality has quoted such a remarks against the Women's that has irked the masses and specially the Females .
Always truth hurts.
finally someone has said the truth -may be he had to eat his words caiuse he is prez son.... but lot of facts in that statement - its these socialites -some of them porn writers - are the ones to lead senseless debates on tv channels .. and why all the fuss about one rape ,, there are hundreds happening in the country every day ??? why this one > what about that 2 yr old baby raped in gujrat ?? do they hold candle lite march for that in rajkot ,, let them try it..
Abhijit - bravo. Have you lost your mind. Do you expect you mother, sister or wife continue suffering, quietly and say nothing to end such heinous crime. We are not in Taliban country or else you move there and make house in a den it is the dark place to live so that no body can see you and have better prospects.
So you justify that no agitation should have been there and this incident of rape should have been left as any other incident. I didn't know that some people are so insensitive that they will make a big noise if something happens to them but if it happens to anybody else they just want to shut their doors, and watch these incidents on tv like any other incident. Thank god all are not that insensitive.
I can't imagine that a president's ignorant son is insensitive to crime! Unfortunate that we Indians are electing these clowns to be our leaders.
