Controversy erupts as BJP's Khagen Murmu kisses woman during West Bengal campaign; Video goes viral

BJP MP Khagen Murmu has found himself embroiled in controversy after a video from his campaign trail showed him kissing a woman on her cheeks. The Trinamool Congress has seized upon the incident, accusing BJP leaders of harboring an anti-women sentiment.

"If you cannot believe what you just saw, let us clarify. Yes, this is BJP MP & Maldaha Uttar candidate @khagen_murmu kissing a woman on his own accord on his campaign trail," said the Trinamool.



The woman, however, defended the action as an "act of affection." "Where's the problem if a person of my father's age shows his affection towards me and plants a kiss on my cheeks? Why do people have such a dirty mindset? There's nothing wrong in it," she said.

Murmu, a former CPM MLA who joined the BJP in 2019, also defended his act, stating that the woman is like "his child." The incident reportedly occurred on Monday when Murmu was campaigning in his Maldaha Uttar constituency.

The Trinamool, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, further accused the BJP of having a history of mistreating women. "From MPs that sexually harass women wrestlers to leaders who make obscene songs about Bengali women, BJP camp has no dearth of anti-women politicians. This is how Modi Ka Parivar engages in Nari Ka Samman! Imagine what they would do if they came to power," the party added.

Murmu retaliated against the Trinamool's allegations, stating, "People often show affection to children. This is not an issue. This is Trinamool's culture." He also threatened to file a cybercrime complaint against the Trinamool.

The incident, which has sparked a debate over the appropriate conduct of politicians during election campaigns, took place on Monday when the BJP candidate was campaigning in Srihipur village of Chanchal in his parliamentary constituency. Pictures of Khagen Murmu kissing the woman were widely shared on social media.

The woman in question has also defended Murmu's actions, stating, "If a man kisses a woman like his own daughter, what is the problem with that? People who are making such incidents viral on social media have a dirty mentality. Khagen Murmu loves me like a daughter. My father and mother were also present when the picture was taken."