Actress, Trinamool Congress leader Koushani Mukherjee’s ‘mother-sister’ remark sparks controversy

NEW DELHI: Tollywood actress-turned-Trinamool Congress candidate from Krishnanagar North Assembly constituency, Koushani Mukherjee, courted controversy after a video together with her purported remark “Please think before you cast votes, you have mother, sister at home” went viral on the web. The video in query was shared on Twitter by Ritesh Tiwari, vice-president of the BJP’s West Bengal unit.

Ritesh Tiwari cited the video to recommend that Trinamool candidate Koushani Mukherjee was overtly threatening voters of BJP. “TMC leaders have always used rape threats to intimidate the opposition,” Ritesh Tiwari mentioned in his tweet. “This time no one is scared!” he added.

_________ __________ _ ________ ______ ___ __ ______ ______@AITCofficial candidate from Krishnanagar North, Koushani Mukherjee is overtly giving threats to BJP Voters.

TMC leaders have all the time used rape threats to intimidate the opposition.

This time nobody is scared!#EbarBJP pic.twitter.com/dkeAWtkBiD

— Ritesh Tiwari (@IamRiteshTiwari) April 2, 2021

Koushani, who had joined Trinamool Congress two months in the past and is within the fray in Krishnagar seat claimed that part of her remark was taken out of context and put within the video by BJP’s IT cell to present it a distinct which means. The actress-politician went Live on Facebook to present a clarification of the controversial video.

“I had sought to project the fact that Bengal is the safest state for women, unlike BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh where women were raped in Hathras and their parents were shot at for protesting. The BJP IT cell edited the footage for cheap politics,” she mentioned in a press release, in keeping with the PTI.

Koushani additionally posted a video of what she claimed was her unique touch upon her Facebook web page by which she is seen strolling in her constituency canvassing for votes and telling voters “Think twice before voting for BJP, you have your mother and sisters at home”.

She can be seen saying “In Didi’s Bengal women are safe. Don’t vote for BJP if you don’t want Bengal to turn into another Hathras in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh.”

Actor-turned BJP leader Rupa Bhattacharya hit out at Koushani in a publish saying “The utterances of the so called actress turned politicians like you make our heads hang in shame.” 

“An actress should have a refined taste … If you think that by making such an ugly comment you will endear yourself to Trinamool Congress workers, rest assured they will hate your hypocrisy from the bottom of their heart,” Bhattacharya mentioned.

Trinamool Congress minister Sashi Panja mentioned a part of Koushani’s feedback have been stored within the edited video however not the whole footage.

Meanwhile, the voting in 60 meeting seats have taken place in West Bengal. The remaining seats within the state will go to polling in subsequent six phases.