Bengal minister under fire for obscene remark

A West Bengal minister has invited sharp criticism after saying that women activists of the opposition CPI-M used to tear off their own blouses to claim they were victims of violence.

"Don't tell me about the women's wing of the CPI-M (Communist Party of India-Marxist). They often used to tear off their own blouses and claim they were victims of violence," said Minister of Small Industries and Textiles Swapan Debnath.

Delivering a speech at a rally in Burdwan, the Trinamool Congress leader also took a dig at police.

"Earlier, police, in order to prove their efficiency and get promotion, would arrest their own sons. In the same way, we know many such women's wing leaders of the CPI-M used to tear off their own blouses and accuse others of molestation."

Amidst clapping by a section of the audience, the minister said if the CPI-M women's wing leaders had a fight at home with their husbands, they will put the blame on a person connected with the Trinamool.