CPI-M issues public warning to party MP

Kolkata Feb 23 (IANS) The CPI-M on Thursday issued a public warninga to its Rajya Sabha member Ritabrata Banerjee for threatening a party supporter who had raised questions in the social media about the source of funds of the young leader s expensive watch and pen.

The Communist Party of India-Marxist s West Bengal state committee issued the warning during its two-day meeting that ended during the day.

The state committee has criticised the behaviour of its member-cum-MP Ritabrata Banerjee and given him a public warning with regard to a controversy over the social media the party said in a statement.

The issue related to a Facebook post by a party worker who pasted a photo of Banerjee watching a East Bengal-Mohun Bagan soccer match in Siliguri on February 12. The worker pointed to the MP s Mont Blanc pen and Apple smartwatch and questioned how - despite being a party wholetimer - he could afford such expensive gadgets.

As the post became viral Banerjee took umbrage and threatened to lodge a police complaint against the worker for making hate speeches and maligning him on social media. The MP further mailed the human resource department of the Bengaluru-based start up where the worker was employed and asked them to look into the matter.

Banerjee s e-mail also got leaked on the social media triggering a wave of protests against his behaviour.

An embarrassed CPI-M central leadership asked the state committee - of which Banerjee is a member - to deal with the issue.

On Wednesday Banerjee apologised to the party s state secretariat for shooting off a mail to the party worker s employer.

Addressing the media after the state committee session on Thursday CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said it was wrong on the part of the MP to send a missive to the employer of the person who lodged a complaint.

--IANS
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