A massive political row erupted in West Bengal after a purported video has surfaced in which former Calcutta high court judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay can be heard asking about "the amount at which chief minister Mamata Banerjee is getting sold." The BJP has said that the video is fake and called it a ploy by TMC to malign the party.
The disparaging remarks purportedly made by the BJP's Tamluk candidate prompted an angry retaliation by the Trinamool Congress, who questioned BJP's stance on battling for women rights.
"It is shameful that a former judge who is now a BJP candidate uses such words to malign a woman chief minister. This is the guarantee of the BJP that women under BJP rule will be insulted in this way," TMC leader Santanu Sen said.
The TMC leaders have also lodged a complaint with the Election Commission, demanding action against Gangopadhyay for his "sexist" remarks.
The BJP, however, said that the video is "fake". "We don't agree with the existence of any such videos. This is a ploy by the TMC to release fake videos and malign the BJP. But that won't make any difference in the elections," BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said.
Moneycontrol has not been able to independently verify the authenticity of the video.
In the video, the former judge can be heard saying: "Trinamool says (BJP's Sandeshkhali candidate) Rekha Patra was bought for Rs 2,000. So, Mamata Banerjee, what is your price, Rs 10 lakh?"
He allegedly made these remarks during a rally in East Midnapore's Chaitanyapur earlier this week.
Gangopadhyay resigned as a judge of the Calcutta high court in March and later joined BJP. He has been fielded by the party from the Tamluk Lok Sabha seat.
(With inputs from agencies)
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