MP Tapas Pal's wife apologizes for his 'insensitive' rape comment

Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Tapas Pal's wife, Nandita Pal, has apologized for her husband's widely condemned remarks, where he had threatened to send his men to the homes of Communist Party of India (Marxist) leaders to rape their women.

Nandita Pal said, "Whatever he said is not right. I am sorry about it."

Her husband Tapas Pal had invited widespread condemnation by saying, "I will send my boys to their (attackers) homes and ask them to rape their women. If any of our Trinamool men are touched, I will ensure that the CPI (M) is finished and ensure that their homes are burnt."

The TMC, meanwhile, has sought a written explanation from Tapas Pal for his remarks, even as party spokesperson Derek O Brien condemned the statement as "utterly insensitive".

Women's rights activists, meanwhile, have also questioned West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's silence over the issue.

Jagmati Sangwan of the All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) said, "Mamata Banerjee is a woman, she still has not commented about this. We condemn this.