• durgesh dubey
• 05 Aug, 2024

Minister Akhil Giri

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) leadership on August 4 instructed West Bengal’s Correctional Administration Minister, Akhil Giri, to resign from his ministerial post and apologize to a female forest officer after a video surfaced online showing him verbally abusing her.

Trinamool Congress spokesperson Santanu Sen told local media that the party does not condone Mr. Giri’s behavior towards the officer. Following party instructions, TMC state president Subrata Bakshi asked Giri to apologize and submit his resignation immediately.

The controversy erupted after videos emerged of Giri, who is the MLA for Ramnagar, threatening and verbally abusing forest ranger Manisha Sahu. This occurred after she and her team removed encroachments on forest department land near Tajpur beach. Speaking to reporters in Kanthi, Purba Medinipur district, Giri stated he would resign but refused to apologize.

Giri, flanked by locals in the video, warned Sahu that he would reduce her tenure. He later said there was "no question of apologizing to any official," but he regretted his remarks made in an agitated state. He added that he would email his resignation that night and personally hand it over to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee the following day in the Assembly.

Another TMC spokesperson, Jaiprakash Majumdar, emphasized that the party does not tolerate such behavior from its members and acknowledged that Giri's outburst had tarnished the party's image.

Giri mentioned he would continue to serve as an MLA and advocate for his constituency even after resigning as a minister. He criticized forest officials for removing small traders who sold goods to tourists near the beach town, alleging that these officials had previously permitted the sheds in exchange for monetary considerations.

Forest Minister Birbaha Hansda stated she had spoken to Sahu over the phone after the incident. Giri reiterated his criticism of the forest officials, claiming they lacked compassion.

West Bengal Minister Akhil Giri threatens a lady Forest Officer because she was performing her duty to remove illegal encroachment in forest areas.

What did he say -

1. "সরকারি কর্মচারী, মাথা নিচু করে কথা বলবেন।" - You are a government employee, bow down your head (infront of… pic.twitter.com/CDrULP9Mli

— BJP West Bengal (@BJP4Bengal) August 3, 2024