By IANS,
Kolkata : At a time when different factions of the West Bengal Congress have agreed that its chief will be named by party president Sonia Gandhi, a faux pas by senior leader Virendra Katariya that the ailing Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi was “not in our midst” has created a furore here.
Katariya, while addressing party workers in Kolkata, referred to senior Congress leader and former union information and broadcasting minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi and said: “Woh hamare beech nahin hai (He is not in our midst).”
Dasmunshi had suffered a massive stroke in October 2008 which left him paralyzed and unable to speak. He was even taken to Dusseldorf, Germany for treatment. He has returned to India, but is still under treatment.
Katariya tried to clarify his remarks by saying that he meant that Dasmunshi is in hospital and not at the meeting.
But his comment had already inflicted the damage. The state congress workers got infuriated and started raising slogans. Finally, senior Congress leader Pradip Bhattacharya came to the rescue of Katariya and controlled the situation.
A furious Deepa Dasmunshi, MP and wife of Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi, also marked her protest. “This is a sentimental issue. He should have not commented on it. Priyada has been the political guide to many. I mark my protest on this issue,” she said.
Katariya is the in-charge of elections in the Congress’ West Bengal unit.