TMC Minister Akhil Giri Draws Flak For Derogatory Remark Against Droupadi Murmu

Trinamool Congress minister Akhil Giri come under criticism after a video of him insulting President Droupadi Murmu went viral.

In the video, Giri can be heard saying, “We don’t judge anyone by their appearance. We respect the office of the President. But how does our President look?”

The Minister for Correctional Administration Giri was addressing a group of people in Nandigram on Thursday, November 10.

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Akhil Giri Remark Against Droupadi Murmu

Bharatiya Janta Party’s (BJP) Amit Malviya shared the video in which Giri made derogatory comments against President Murmu. Malviya described the comment as a “shameful level of discourse”.

The political party has strongly criticised Giri’s remark and the BJP Bengal unit wrote, “President Droupadi Murmu, hails from the Tribal community. Akhil Giri, TMC Minister of Correctional Homes made objectionable comments about her in the presence of Shashi Panja, another minister from the women’s welfare department:”

The BJP’s Bengal unit called West Bengal’s Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and TMC “anti-tribal” for the remark against India’s first tribal president.

They also called for a statewide protest against the derogatory remark and demanded that Giri resign.

Shashi Panja said that Giri’s comment was not endorsed by the party. She added, “It is for the minister to take responsibility. We hold the highest regard for the President of India”.

Previously, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury created controversy after he called President Murmu ‘Rashtrapatni’. Chowdhury later apologised for his remark and described it as a “slip of the tongue”.

Associating women with only their physical appearance and ignoring their work and talent is a trend seen too often. There is no shortage of derogatory remarks against women, especially in politics.

Giri's remark does not mark the first time a politician has made sexist and derogatory comments against women in politics. Earlier this year, the BJP leader Chandrakant Patil drew flak after he told Nationalist Congress Party's Supriya Sule to "go home and cook".

People's physical appearance and their quality of work do not go hand in hand. As long as derogatory comments about female leaders continue to overshadow their accomplishments, women will not be able to achieve gender equality.