Ex-judge barred from campaigning for 24 hrs over Mamata remarks

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday “strongly censured” former Calcutta high court judge and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) poll candidate Abhijit Gangopadhyay and barred him from campaigning for 24 hours over his “abominable” remarks against West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee last week.

The 24-hour ban on campaigning will be in effect from 5pm on Tuesday, according to the notice issued to Gangopadhyay by the EC.

The poll body found Gangopadhyay’s “statement a direct affront on the ‘erosion of status of women in India’; such a statement that is outrightly condemnable when used in respect of any woman, not to speak of a senior political leader and holder of a constitutional position, who he has targeted,” the notice said.

“And whereas the Commission painfully notes the fact that such abominable words have come from someone of Shri Abhijit Gangopadhyay’s educational and professional background

Abhijit Gangopadhyay

and hence does not remotely deserve any benefit of doubt. And whereas, by Shri Abhijit Gangopadhyay’s words, he has brought damage and disrepute to the state of West Bengal that has a distinguished tradition of respect for women,” it added.

While the poll body barred Gangopadhyay from campaigning for 24 hours, it also directed him to exercise caution in his “public utterances” till the time the MCC is in force.

On May 15, Gangopadhyay, who resigned as Calcutta high court judge and joined the BJP in March, said in Haldia: “Mamata Banerjee, how much are you being sold for? Your rate is 10 lakhs, why? Because you are getting your make-up done by Keya Seth? Mamata Banerjee, is she even a woman? I keep wondering sometimes.”