Bengal minister stokes row with 'maal' remark on BJP's Sandeshkhali leader

Firhad Hakim made the remark while speaking of the Lok Sabha election loss of Rekha Patra, who was at the forefront of the women's protest in Sandeshkhali, to Trinamool Congress's candidate in Basirhat.

In Short

• Firhad Hakim attacks BJP's Rekha Patra over election loss to Trinamool
• Refers to PM Narendra Modi as 'bearded man'
• Suvendu Adhikari seeks legal action against Bengal minister

West Bengal Minister Firhad Hakim stoked a controversy after he referred to BJP leader Rekha Patra as "maal" while speaking of her Lok Sabha election loss to Trinamool Congress in Basirhat. Hakim's remark drew severe backlash from the BJP, with Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari calling it "outrageous" and demanding action against the minister.

Speaking at an event, Hakim also took potshots at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for politicising the Sandeshkhali issue.

"Before the (Lok Sabha) elections, a bearded man came to Bengal. Do you remember his name? His name is Narendra Modi. He came to Bengal and expressed fake concern for the mothers and sisters of Sandeshkhali. The BJP also announced a candidate from Sandeshkhali. Where is that candidate? She (Rekha Patra) lost... hero maal (a loser). BJP loses elections. It only knows how to file cases," Hakim said.

Earlier this year, Sandeshkhali captured nationwide attention after a section of women led fierce protests against suspended TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan, a local Zila Parishad member, and his aides for land-grabbing and sexual exploitation.

Rekha Patra was at the forefront of the protests and was the first woman to file a complaint over sexual assault. The Sandeshkhali protest was used by the BJP to corner the Mamata Banerjee-led government ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. The BJP gave a ticket to Patra from Basirhat, under which Sandeshkhali falls. However, Patra lost the election to Trinamool veteran and former MP Haji Nurul Islam.

Hitting out at Hakim, Suvendu Adhikari sought legal action against the minister for the derogatory remark.

"Rekha Patra, other than being a woman, belongs to the SC Poundra-Kshatriya community. This is demeaning not only towards her, but also offensive towards her entire community," the BJP leader tweeted.

Adhikari also took a swipe at Mamata Banerjee, saying, "Also, a person who can be disdainful towards a woman, can only be expected to be disrespectful towards the PM, as often done by his leader."

BJP leader Agnimitra Paul also pounced upon Hakim for his remark, saying it showed the TMC government's outlook towards women.

Referring to Hakim as the "right hand" of Mamata Banerjee, Paul said, "'Maal' is a very cheap, sleazy word... a very disrespectful word towards women, and I am sure that not only Hakim, all the MPs, MLAs and the party members of TMC think that the women of Bengal are 'maal', which is 'bhogya vastu'. We are not very shocked... because this is the way your government has been treating us."