Rape remark: Bengal women's panel wants Mamata to act

Kolkata, July 1 (IANS) The West Bengal Commission for Women Tuesday said the onus is on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to act against Trinamool MP Tapas Paul for his rape remark.

"We have informed the chief minister about the outrageous remarks made by Paul. Now the ball is in her court. She (Banerjee) is a woman, the chief minister and her party head. The onus is on her to take action," Commission chairperson Sunanda Mukherjee told IANS.

Paul, an actor-turned-politician who represents Krishnanagar in West Bengal's Nadia district, has been caught on tape warning Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) men that he won't "spare them and destroy their entire clan" and "unleash his boys to rape their women".

National Commission for Women chairperson Mamta Sharma Tuesday said the panel will take suo motu cognisance and depute a delegation to probe the matter.

Sharma also demanded Paul's arrest.