Congress’ Adhir Ranjan apologises to TMC’s O’Brien for calling him ‘foreigner’

West Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Friday apologised to TMC MP Derek O'Brien over his "foreigner" remark.

"I conveyed my regrets to MR DEREK O'BRIEN for a word inadvertently uttered by me on him as FOREIGNER," wrote Adhir on X. He also said he dialed O'Brien and expressed his regret.

While speaking to the media in Siliguri on Wednesday, Chowdhury had called O'Brien as a "foreigner" and added "he knows a lot of things. Ask him."

The remark came after O'Brien blamed him for seat-sharing talks between two parties not going through in West Bengal.

"Three reasons for the alliance not working in Bengal Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury," O'Brien told reporters in Delhi on Thursday.

O'Brien also alleged that Chowdhury was working at the behest of the BJP.

Chowdhury's comment drew flak on social media as well.

Earlier, Chowdhury had claimed that the Congress was facing problems in getting permission for organising some public meetings as part of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in West Bengal.

"The Yatra will continue as scheduled in West Bengal, but in some places, we are facing roadblocks. We wanted to organise public meetings in certain places, but due to various kinds of exams, we are not getting permission in accordance with Supreme Court directives. We thought we would get relaxations in some places, but we are not getting it from the administration, they are saying that they can't give it. However, the Yatra will go on, there will be no change in it," he said.

The Rahul Gandhi-led Yatra took a two-day break after entering West Bengal from Assam. It is set to resume on January 28.

(With PTI inputs)