TMC leader Giri apologizes for his remarks against President Murmu

West Bengal, November 12: A day after facing strong criticism from the opposition as well as from his own party, West Bengal Minister and TMC leader Akhil Giri on Saturday apologized for his statement against the President of India Droupadi Murmu.

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 A video of the same also went viral on social media on Friday.

In his apology on Saturday, Giri said that he was sorry and regretful about what he said, and still respects the Constitution and the post of the President of India.

"I said, President. Didn't take anyone's name. If the President of India feels insulted about it, then I am sorry and regret what I said," the TMC leader said in a statement.

"I don't regret how BJP will react to this. I am not concerned about BJP. My reaction was for Suvendu Adhikari," he claimed.

"I am also part of the Constitution. I have taken an oath and become a minister. He (Suvendu Adhikari) insulted me and said that I look like a crow. He called me a half-pant minister. This is also an insult to me. Calling me half-pant minister is insulting the whole minister panel," he said.

Several leaders from the BJP as well as from the TMC criticized Akhil Giri for his remarks. The BJP's West Bengal unit leaders alleged that the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government was 'Anti-Tribal'.

BJP Union minister of tribal affairs on Saturday also condemned Giri's remarks and said that Mamata Banerjee should sack the minister for disrespecting the President of India.

"They (TMC) cannot digest the fact that a tribal woman is now the President of India. BJP strongly condemns this. We will make sure he (TMC leader Akhil Giri) gets busted," the Union Minister said.

BJP MP Saumitra Khan also wrote to the National Commission of Women (NCW) and demanded the immediate arrest of Akhil Giri. "Giri's comment against the President of India Droupadi Murmu was an insult.

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