Nandigram: A political storm erupted in Nandigram after Pralay Pal, a senior BJP neta and vice-president of the Tamluk organisational district, said in a Facebook video post that migrant workers working away from home may have to have gynaecological checks performed on their wives when they return.Pal’s statements targeted a group of women who visited the Jagannath Temple in Digha under a Trinamool initiative during Dol Jatra.“Go to Gujarat, go to Chennai, toil hard and send money home,” Pal said in a post. “And meanwhile, look at your wives going to Digha to sing praises of development and take diksha. I don’t know in which hotel they are taking this diksha or for how long. Just make sure when you return, you don’t have to take your wives to a gynaecologist. There is no dearth of candidates in that party (Trinamool). (I am) warning you as an elder brother; the rest is up to you,” he added.Trinamool condemned the remarks, labelling them a reflection of BJP’s “anti-women” mindset. Senior state minister Shashi Panja said, “This is Bengal. Here our women are called “Ma” from the day they are born. They are educated, empowered and independent. We don’t need to prove our chastity to anyone. Misogyny and moral policing have no place in our society. We will live with dignity in our own land.”The women who participated in the pilgrimage demanded an unconditional public apology from Pal. “We are disgusted by Pralay Pal’s mindset regarding the mothers and sisters of our households,” said one of the pilgrims. When questioned by TOI, Pal remained defiant. “I didn’t intend to insult anyone. Given the rise in extramarital affairs, I suggested that migrant brothers return home and get their wives checked by a gynaecologist to ensure everything is fine. TMC is overreacting,” he said.
