Union minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Giriraj Singh’s comment over West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee shaking a leg with celebrities has drawn sharp reaction from TMC women MPs.

The TMC leaders expressed outrage by dubbing Singh’s comments as “regressive and misogynist” with Banerjee herself dismissing the remarks.

On Wednesday, Giriraj Singh criticised Mamata Banerjee’s participation in the Kolkata International Film Festival — where she had joined Salman Khan, Sonakshi Sinha, Mahesh Bhatt, Anil Kapoor, Shatrughan Sinha and was seen shaking a leg with them.

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In the widely circulated video the party posted on social media, the Union minister says, “Jashn mana rahi hai, thumke laga rahi hai, yeh uchit nahi hai. (She is celebrating and dancing; this is inappropriate.)” When pointed out that Banerjee was dancing as part of the film festival, he added, “Toh festival mai thumke lagana kaun zaroori hai? (Is it required to dance at the festival?)”

The TMC slammed Singh for his sexist remark and said, “It’s evident that the BJP leaders find it incredibly hard to fathom a woman in power challenging their authority. Their archaic mindset, steeped in gender biases, is blatantly on display.”

TMC women MPs also protested in Parliament premises during the ongoing Winter Session over Giriraj Singh’s remarks and demanded an apology.

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TMC MP Mahua Moitra reacted to Giriraj Singh’s remark and said, “Mr Singh, can I just tell you, the reason we ‘manao jashn’ in Bengal is because we don’t have to put up with the likes of you with the misogyny and patriarchy that is practised by you and the BJP every single day.”

TMC’s National Spokesperson Sushmita Dev said Giriraj Singh’s remark reflects “the BJP’s shameful and misogynistic mindset.”

She added that the KIFF is “a pride of Bengal”. “To pass a comment and to mimic her (Mamata Banerjee) the way he has only shows the shameful and misogynistic mindset that the BJP has,” said Dev.

Another TMC leader, Shashi Panja, said the party leaders are “filled with anger” at the Union Minister’s remarks. “We would ask the BJP who gave you the right to disrespect a woman? Giriraj Singh is a Union Minister holding a position of responsibility…the way he said such inappropriate things, even if he apologises, it’s too little,” said Panja.

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Giriraj Singh denies making inappropriate comments

Giriraj Singh has denied making any inappropriate comment and accused Trinamool Congress of trying to “create confusion”.

While talking to NDTV, Giriraj Singh denied making any derogatory comment. “I didn’t say anything wrong… I just said that the Chief Minister of a state where poverty is very high is celebrating at a programme…I have given a statement about a Chief Minister and not against any woman leader. I stand by my statement,” he told NDTV.

The TMC again slammed him for backpedalling on his “derogatory remarks”.

“His denial is another textbook example of @BJP4India’s strategy to engage in shameful conduct and then brazenly defend it, regardless of overwhelming evidence,” the TMC stated.