Misogyny in India cuts across party lines: Mahua Moitra on TMC leaders' rape case remarks

She stressed that the TMC-led West Bengal government has "zero tolerance" for crime against women.

A law student was allegedly raped on June 25 inside the South Calcutta Law College campus in Kolkata’s Kasba area.

The accused include Manojit Mishra, 31, a former leader of the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad and now a practising lawyer, along with two students: Pramit Mukhopadhyay (20) and Zaib Ahmed (19). All of them have been arrested.

On Saturday, the police also arrested Pinaki Banerjee, a 55-year-old security guard at the college. CCTV footage allegedly showed him outside the guard’s room while the crime was taking place.

In a post on X, Mahua Moitra said: "College student’s rape investigation on war footing @KolkataPolice  identified & arrested all accused within 12 hrs, sent to 4 day custody. @AITCofficial & state govt has zero tolerance for crime against women - swiftest action taken in rape & POCSO cases. Unlike @BJP4India who glorify, garland & reward rapists & killers."

In another post, she said: "Misogyny in India cuts across party lines. What differentiates
@AITCofficial  is that we condemn these disgusting comments no matter who makes them."

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Saturday distanced itself from the victim-blaming remarks made by its MP Kalyan Banerjee and MLA Madan Mitra in connection with the alleged gang-rape of a first-year law student at South Calcutta Law College.

“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,” the TMC said on its official X handle, asserting that such views do not reflect the party’s position.

Reiterating its stance, the party said it maintained “zero tolerance for crimes against women” and demanded the “strictest possible punishment” for those involved.

What did Banerjee and Mitra say?

Kalyan Banerjee, speaking to the media on Saturday, appeared to downplay the role of law enforcement, saying, “Nothing will change until the mentality of people changes. The change can’t be brought through law or police.”

When asked about safety measures in educational institutions, he responded, “How can police be posted inside an education institution for security? Classmates, who should provide security inside the campus, are raping! Then who should be blamed?”

Madan Mitra, meanwhile, courted criticism after reportedly telling ANI, “This incident has sent a message to girls that if someone calls you when the college is closed offering you a position in the unit, then don't go, nothing good will come of it. If that girl had not gone there, this wouldn't have happened.”

A preliminary medical report has noted abrasions on the victim’s neck and chest. While no external genital or oral injuries were detected, doctors have not ruled out sexual assault pending forensic confirmation, according to a report accessed by NDTV.

In response to mounting public anger, the Kolkata Police has constituted a five-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident.

Despite the gravity of the case and the involvement of a functionary with links to the ruling party, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has not commented on the matter so far.