Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury faces backlash for calling Derek O'Brien 'foreigner'
economictimes.indiatimes.comWest Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's decision that her Trinamool Congress (TMC) party will contest the Lok Sabha polls alone in the state, Congress state president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury faced backlash for saying that TMC MP Derek O'Brien is a «foreigner» while responding to a reporter's question in Siliguri.
Individuals from different sections of society and across political lines slammed the senior Congress leader on social media for his insensitive remark.
People for Animals founder Pritish Nandy said that Adhir Ranjan is «single-handedly responsible» for keeping the Congress irrelevant in the state.
«The WBPCC President may be that rare seat winner for the Congress in West Bengal but he is single handedly responsible for keeping his party irrelevant in the state.
And comments like this, calling @derekobrienmp „a foreigner“ shows the abysmal quality of his mindset,» Nandy said in a post on 'X'.
Journalist Vir Sanghvi asked how the Congress is different from the «Sangh Parivar» for questioning the «Indian-ness» of other minorities.
«For a party that prides itself on inclusivity how shameful is it for the WBPCC Prez to dismiss @derekobrienmp as 'a foreigner'? Is this at all different from the Sangh Parivar questioning the Indian-ness of other minorities? He should be suspended or at least made to apologise,» Sanghvi said in a post.
Another media personality Siddhartha Basu slammed Chowdhury for having such «unjustifiable attitude» just for «provincial pickings».
«Most unworthy of a man in his position to have such a condemnable, unjustifiable attitude. Shame.
