Kolkata: Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kalyan Banerjee’s controversial comments on the alleged gangrape of a 24-year-old law college student in Kolkata have ignited a fierce backlash. Speaking to reporters, Banerjee downplayed the incident by saying, “What can be done if a friend rapes his friend? Will the police be in schools? This was done by students to another student. Who will protect her (victim)?”
His statement, reported by NDTV, triggered sharp condemnation from the Bharatiya Janata Party, which slammed Banerjee for showing insensitivity toward the survivor.
The TMC MP went on to say, “Who does all this criminality and molestation? Some men do it. So, who should women fight against? Women should fight against these perverted men.”
However, Banerjee refused to answer questions about the main accused’s alleged links with TMC’s student wing, responding:
“I am saying the same thing again and again. Whoever has done it must be arrested immediately. But if a friend rapes a friend, how can that be corruption?”
The horrific assault took place at South Calcutta Law College on June 25, when the 24-year-old woman was allegedly lured to a guard room, locked inside, and raped by Monojit Mishra, a former student and practicing criminal lawyer. Two current students, Zaib Ahmed (19) and Pramit Mukhopadhyay (20), allegedly assisted him.
According to the survivor’s complaint, she was also struck on the head with a hockey stick during the ordeal. Mishra, reportedly the unofficial head of the college’s TMCP (Trinamool Chhatra Parishad) unit, has been seen in photos with several TMC leaders, which the BJP has circulated widely.
Police have so far arrested the three main accused and, on Saturday, detained a security guard from the college for failing in his duty to protect the victim.
