Calcutta, Feb. 23: The CPM Bengal committee today publicly censured Rajya Sabha member Ritabrata Banerjee for his "behaviour over a social media controversy" in which questions were raised about his use of expensive smartwatch and pen.

"State committee member and MP Ritabrata Banerjee's behaviour over a social media controversy is being criticised and publicly censured by the state committee," the committee said in a statement.

CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury today said he hoped the 38-year-old MP's "conscience" would grow with time.

Banerjee had posted a selfie on Facebook in which he was seen wearing an Apple smartwatch and using Mont Blanc Meisterstuck pen. A CPM supporter, Sumit Talukdar, captioned the photo as "the great leader of the have-nots", as the smartwatch would cost over Rs 25,000 and the pen over Rs 30,000 in India.

Banerjee allegedly wrote to the human resource department of the private IT company in Bangalore where Talukdar works, complaining that one of its employees was making "hate speeches" and trying to "malign" him in the social media. The MP asked the employers to "look into the matter".

Asked if Banerjee, a CPM whole-timer, ought to be flashing such expensive items of personal use in public, Yechury today said: "It is one's personal conviction and conscience. I hope it (his conscience) will grow over the years. The CPM has a legacy of leaders like Puchalapalli Sundarayya and E.M.S. Namboodiripad, coming from wealthy families and still living simple lives."

However, Yechury went on to defend Banerjee's use of the smartwatch and pen. "An MP gets Rs 50,000 to buy an iPad and Rs 1.5 lakh for purchasing laptop and other computer accessories and gadgets during his term. You would find almost all MPs in both Houses possessing several Apple products," said Yechury, who is also a Rajya Sabha member.

Banerjee, in his explanation to the secretariat yesterday, had said the Mont Blanc Meisterstuck pen was a gift from Najma Heptulla, who was a senior Rajya Sabha member, when he first joined the Upper House in 2014.

Sources said Banerjee had told the sate secretariat that the smartwatch was a gift to members of the parliamentary committee on transport, tourism and culture. He offered an apology in the secretariat yesterday for the controversy.

Talukdar, 24, had complained to CPM state secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra against Banerjee. The MP had also posted on his Facebook page, which is currently deactivated, that he would lodge an FIR against Talukdar with Delhi police.

Yechury said the CPM was working on a set of guidelines to curb the "menace" of comrades indulging in "self-propaganda" in the social media.

"We will soon have a set of guidelines for all party members both at the state and the central levels to curb this menace. No comrade is allowed to take to the social media on any issue the party is yet to decide. The social media in particular is not the medium to voice one's disapproval of anything," he said.

Contacted, Banerjee declined comment on the subject.