TMC leader threatens to cut CPI(M) leader's tongue

Kolkata: Trinamool Congress MP Idris Ali allegedly threatened to cut off the tongue of CPI(M) leader Gautam Deb if the latter speaks ill of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, even as his party disapproved of the statement and called for his explanation.

"Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is an epitome of honesty. If Gautam Deb speaks ill of her again, I will cut off his tongue and break his bones," Ali said in response to the former Left Front minister's claim that Banerjee would have to go to jail in connection with the Saradha case.

"I will do it even if he hides in the CPI(M) state headquarter at Alimuddin Street," the TMC Lok Sabha MP from Basirhat said while speaking at a meeting yesterday at Dadpur village panchayat in North 24 Parganas district's Sashan area.

Deb had reportedly said at CPI(M)'s North 24 Parganas district office in Barasat on Monday that both Banerjee and senior TMC leader and Rajya Sabha member Mukul Roy would have to go to jail in connection with the Saradha scam.

The Left party has taken up a programme to gherao the CBI office at the CGO complex in Salt Lake on January 12 to demand that Banerjee and Roy be questioned in connection with the Saradha scam.

Disapproving Ali's comment, Trinamool Congress today termed it as "crass and unhealthy" and asked him to give an explanation in writing about why he made such a remark.

"Seen footage of Idris Ali's comments. Crass & unhealthy. Party doesn't endorse such views. He has been asked to explain in writing," TMC national spokeperson Derek O' Brien posted on Twitter.

Another TMC leader, who did not wish to be named, said such comments will have an adverse impact on the party's image.