Mamata 'forces' Rezzak apology; EC files FIR

KOLKATA: In an effort to control further damage, chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday forced Abdur Rezzak Mollah to tender an unconditional apology for his misogynistic jibe at BJP's Howrah North candidate Roopa Ganguly . The Trinamool supremo is also likely to attend a rally in Bhangor on April 26 to forge rival party leaders -Arabul Islam and Kaisar Ahmed -to throw their weight behind the beleaguered Rezzak.

Rebuked by Mamata, Rezzak also apologized to party colleagues Dev and Moon Moon Sen. Party sources said Mamata called up the veteran leader and censored him for his remarks. She also asked him to focus on the battle at hand and wrest Bhangor from CPM.

The Election Commission is, however, in no mood to let Rezzak off its radar so soon. It has asked police to lodge an FIR against Rezzak under section 509 IPC, a bailable section.

"I never uttered a word against actors like Moon Moon Sen and Dev. It was put on my mouth. They are not showing that I am speaking on the point, but they are giving breaking news regarding Roopa Ganguly . I am really sorry for making any remark about her personal life," Rezzak said.

He, however, claimed that he was not apologizing to her on orders issued by the Trinamool leadership. "No pressure came from my party . I did a wrong, so I should apologize to the person. This is not the culture of Bengal. I remarked against the culture and for that I beg apology to Roopa Ganguly and all the people of Bengal," Rezzak added.

Refusing to admit the apology came too late, Trinamool spokesperson Derek O Brien said, "Proud of veteran politician and my new colleague Rezzak Saheb. It takes courage to say sorry ." Roopa retorted, "I would love to be a Draupadi again only to put to end Didi's Dushashan brothers."

Party leaders sense a desperation ­ an anxiety -in Rezzak. With Kaiser and Arabul, who between them control 13 gram panchayats that make up the Bhangor assembly seat, reluctant to translate rhetoric into action, Rezzak is waging a lonely battle. The eight-time winner from Canning (East) had been egged by Trinamool to contest Bhangor. A recordbreaking ninth win is likely to take him straight to the Mamata Banerjee cabinet, in case Trinamool wins. But hope is fast dissipating for the leader who is seeing crowds thinning in his rallies. But Mamata is leaving no stone unturned. After cancelling Abhishek's rally, she will now address a meeting herself on April 26 at Bhangor.