KOLKATA: An Indian lawmaker apologised Tuesday after he was captured on video threatening the rape of his political rivals' relatives, in what he said was "a gross error of judgement".
Tapas Pal of the All India Trinamool Congress Party admitted his remarks had caused "dismay and consternation" after initially denying he had made the rape comment.
"I have no excuses to offer. It was a gross error of judgement and deeply insensitive," Pal, 55, said in a statement.
"It should not have happened. And I assure you it will not happen again," he added.
Amid widespread outrage in India over a series of recent high-profile rapes, Pal could be clearly heard bragging of his ability to order attacks against his left-wing opponents.
"If CPI-M (Communist Party of India - Marxist) tries to kill and intimidate our workers... I will not spare them. I will let loose my men to rape your women," he said in an address to followers in late May which was filmed on a phone.
His comments drew widespread condemnation, including from Trinamool which is the fourth largest party in parliament and whose support is concentrated in the state of West Bengal.
"We do not in any way endorse what he said," party spokesman Derek O'Brien told reporters, adding that party leader and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was "hopping mad" about the remarks.
Pal, who is also a minor film star in the Kolkata-based movie industry, tried to limit the damage by claiming he had been misquoted.
"I never said rape. I said raid. I said they should raid all the people and places, including women and old," he told CNN-IBN earlier Tuesday.
However even his own wife Nandini said the lawmaker was out of line.
"I feel terrible about it. Whatever he has said, it is not right being a member of the parliament," she told reporters in Kolkata.
The head of the National Commission for Women said Pal's position was now untenable.
"He should resign. This is a very unfortunate statement," said the commission's head Mamata Sharma.
"Mamata Banerjee should take action against him, he should be suspended."
Brinda Karat, the leader of the Communists, told reporters that the comments were "completely unacceptable" and Pal "must be suspended" from the Lok Sabha, India's lower house of parliament.
India brought in tougher laws last year against sex offenders after the fatal gang-rape of a student in New Delhi in December 2012, but they have failed to stem the tide of violence against women across the country.
In May, two girls aged 12 and 14 were found hanging from a mango tree in the state of Uttar Pradesh. They had been abducted and gang-raped.
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No politician or law maker has the guts and the courage to say such thing in Pakistan. If any politician dare to say such thing in Public, he will be shot dead by the Islamist on the spot, or has to gone into solitude for the rest of his life. At least rape is a private subject in Pakistan.
@bing: Kindly don't drag Pakistan into this news. Its all about India and 'Rape' is now an Indian specific subject.
India is rightly called the rape capital of the world and these politicians are making full use of this distinction by their words and deeds and their misdemeanor. Can't get any worst then this. They don't knew the vibes India is getting around the world through such kind of news.
@Raj - USA: Agree- this is NOT an error in judgment. The fact that Mulayam says boys will be boys abhijit mukerji makes the dented and painted comment - it all shows that these people think there will be some peole who appreciate this type of 'macho' behavior. They are out of synch with the times and the voters will show them that such mindsets are NOT okay. SP has been punished in the elections already and Congress too has paid a price in Delhi state elections due to the safety of women issue. @unbelievable: The man is disgusting and should thrown out from his party. But he cannot be jailed for what he hasn't done.
It is not what he said a or that he said these........... Far, Far worse than this ........it is that he can even think on those lines ..... it is that he feels that he will be admired by his party workers for saying these things ......
Tapas Pal, a 55 year old man says these and apologizes claiming that it was an "error of judgement".
It is not an error of judgment. It is the filthy mind and thoughts he has. Fortunately, knowing Bengalis (I grew up in Kolkata) I know that the Bengalis will not forgive him and he deserves it. Even his wife Nandini did not support him by coming with an explanation. From her clear statement, she has made it clear that she is totally against him and he will be humiliated by his own family members also.
Goes to show you that India and Pakistan still have much in common. Somehow men have forgotten to act like men - women aren't your property. This guy should resign from office at a minimum and perhaps be tossed in jail.
At least they prosecute rapists in India. We haven't done that in years:
http://tribune.com.pk/story/728949/zero-conviction-rate-for-rape-senator-proposes-constitutional-changes/
Our politicians aren't any better. Politicians from both sids are disgusting people.
Ashamed of what our MP has said . I have NO EXPLANATIONS for this behaviour .