Kolkata
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday criticised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee following her controversial statement that girls should not be allowed to travel at night, made in the wake of the gang-rape of a medical student in Durgapur. Union Minister of State for Education, Sukanta Majumdar, demanded that Banerjee step down, calling her remarks deplorable and shameful.
From the highest echelons of administration while directly handling the Home Department herself, and being a woman, her remark is utterly unacceptable, Majumdar wrote on X. He added that Banerjee’s comments expose the absolute collapse of law and order in West Bengal and highlighted the state’s repeated failures, citing a recent case in a government medical college.
Majumdar further stated that the Chief Minister’s comment is not merely an insult to every woman in Bengal but also a matter of grave concern and described her resignation as a moral duty in the wake of ongoing law-and-order issues.
Speaking about the Durgapur incident, Banerjee asserted that women’s safety is paramount and that the Trinamool Congress-led government has a zero-tolerance policy for heinous crimes such as rape. She urged the police to take strict action against the accused.
However, Banerjee also questioned the circumstances, noting that the incident occurred in a private medical college and highlighting similar incidents in other states. Three weeks ago, three girls were raped on the beach in Odisha. What action is being taken by the Odisha government? she asked, while adding that private colleges should also ensure student safety.
The remarks have sparked nationwide outrage, with political leaders and activists criticising Banerjee’s statements and questioning the state government’s handling of women’s security.
