New Delhi: Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee's description of Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia as a “lady killer” during a heated discussion between them led to the storm as first Scindia and then a group of women MPs protested about the issue to the Speaker and sought action against the TMC MP. Though Banerjee later apologised for his remarks, Scindia said, “if you will get personal, be prepared for the response also…I do not accept his apology.”
Incidentally, Banerjee was also in the news in October when during an argument with another MP at a hearing of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Waqf Amendment Bill he had smashed a glass bottle and injured himself.
Origin Of The Comment
The out-of-context comment from Banerjee today came during the discussion on amendments to the Disaster Management Act in the Lok Sabha. While speaking on the amendments, Banerjee accused the Centre of non-cooperation during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Claim Made By Minister Nityanand Rai
Responding to the charge, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai claimed that the West Bengal government had put hurdles in vaccine transportation. Scindia then stood up to further claim that India had acted like a “Vishwa Bandhu" or `friend of the world’ and helped various countries during the pandemic. At this, Banerjee attacked him saying he was a “lady killer”.
Scindia protested against this in the House and later also with the Speaker. Meanwhile, BJP MP and party’s Andhra Pradesh president Daggubati Purandeswari criticised Banerjee’s remarks as “offending to women”. She also met the Speaker along with some other women MPs and sought action against Banerjee.
