Prez's son calls Paul's remarks slip of tongue, draws party flak

Kolkata, July 3 (IANS) President Pranab Mukherjee's son Abhijit Mukherjee, who once courted controversy for a sexist remark, has now sprung to the defence of Trinamool Congress MP Tapas Paul seeking forgiveness for the latter's rape comments but drew flak from his own Congress party.

Slamming Abhijit's comments, state Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said he will seek an explanation from the Jangipur MP.

"Tapas has written an apology letter. I feel since he has apologised and his party has pardoned him, the debate should not be dragged any further," Abhjiit told media persons here.

Mukherjee junior even went on to describe Paul's comments, which have triggered nationwide outrage and disgust, as a "slip of tongue".

"At times, such slips of tongue happen although it shouldn't happen. Many of us have made similar mistakes in the past. I hope such things don't get repeated in future," said Mukherjee, who had to apologise for describing women protesters demonstrating against the Dec 16, 2012 gang-rape in Delhi as "highly dented and painted".

Chowdhury, who has vociferous in slamming Paul and demanding his arrest, has called Abhijit's remarks "unwarranted and callous".

"The party no way endorses his (Abhijit) comments, rather we condemn it. When the whole country is seething in anger over Paul's remarks, making such a callous comment is totally unwarranted. I will seek an explanation from him," Chowdhury told IANS.

Paul, an MP from Bengal's Krishnanagar, has been caught on tape exhorting his party workers to kill Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) activists even as he himself asserted that he would gun down his rivals and let loose his boys to rape their women.

Notwithstanding the countrywide clamour for Paul's arrest and expulsion from parliament, the Trinamool has sought to end the matter with an apology which he tendered to his party and the media Tuesday.