Controversy Erupts in West Bengal Over MLA's Remarks on Law Student's Assault
Political Controversy in West Bengal
A significant political controversy unfolded in West Bengal on Saturday following comments made by Trinamool Congress MLA Madan Mitra regarding the alleged gangrape of a law student in Kolkata on June 25. Mitra suggested that the incident might have been prevented if the victim had not attended the college or had brought friends with her, as reported by a local news outlet.
The ruling Trinamool Congress quickly distanced itself from Mitra's statements, condemning his remarks. The opposition party, Bharatiya Janata Party, criticized Mitra, labeling his comments as 'victim-blaming' and 'outrageous.'
The alleged assault occurred on the premises of South Calcutta Law College between 7:30 PM and 10:50 PM on June 25. Authorities announced the arrest of three suspects in connection with the case on Friday.
The arrested individuals, identified as 30-year-old Manojit Mishra, 20-year-old Pramit Mukherjee, and 19-year-old Zaib Ahmed, were presented in court on Friday and placed in police custody for four days.
During a press briefing, Mitra stated, 'If that girl had not gone to the location, this would not have happened.' He further suggested that informing someone or bringing friends could have averted the situation. Despite his controversial comments, he condemned the crime as 'heinous' and assured that the party would take action against anyone found guilty.
Mitra, who represents the Kamarhati constituency, claimed that Mishra, the main suspect, was no longer affiliated with the Trinamool Congress. This statement followed the BJP's release of images showing Mishra with various Trinamool Congress leaders, including MP Abhishek Banerjee.
'The Trinamool Congress is a large party,' Mitra remarked. 'There are individuals everywhere who claim to be part of TMC. We take photos with many people, but only a psychologist can discern a person's true nature.'
In a related incident, another party MP, Kalyan Banerjee, questioned what could be done if a friend were to assault another friend, urging women to be cautious of those with 'distorted mindsets.'
In response to the backlash, the Trinamool Congress clarified that the comments made by Mitra and Banerjee were personal opinions. The party issued a statement on social media, emphasizing their disassociation from these views and reaffirming their commitment to zero tolerance for crimes against women.
The remarks made by MP Kalyan Banerjee and MLA Madan Mitra concerning the heinous crime at South Calcutta Law College were made in their personal capacities. The party unequivocally disassociates itself from their statements and strongly condemns the same. These views do not…
— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) June 28, 2025
Amit Malviya, head of the BJP's West Bengal unit, accused the Trinamool Congress of attempting to discredit the victim rather than supporting her, suggesting that the party was protecting a close associate of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's nephew. He stated, 'No woman is safe from these TMC predators; the less said about individuals like Madan Mitra, the better.' Malviya further claimed that Banerjee is part of the problem.
The BJP also shared Mitra's comments on social media, highlighting a pattern of questioning the character of rape victims in previous cases. They stated, 'He [Mitra] effectively proves what the government once declared after the RG Kar case – No women should go out alone or work at night in West Bengal.'
This incident follows the tragic rape and murder of a junior doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in August 2024, which sparked widespread protests across medical institutions in the state.