After Kalyan Banerjee, TMC MLA Madan Mitra Sparks Outrage With Remarks On Kolkata Law Student Gang Rape Case

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) finds itself grappling with internal discord following controversial remarks by senior leaders on the gang rape of a law student at South Calcutta Law College.

A day after MP Kalyan Banerjee sparked outrage with his comments, senior TMC MLA Madan Mitra added fuel to the fire by suggesting the incident might have been avoided had the victim taken precautions, reported PTI.

“This incident has sent a message to girls that if someone calls you when the college is closed, don't go, nothing good will come of it. If that girl had not gone there, this incident wouldn't have happened,” Mitra said.

“If she had informed someone before going or had taken a couple of friends with her, then this wouldn't have happened. The one who committed this dirty deed took advantage of the situation,” he added.

On Friday, Banerjee had commented, “If a friend rapes a friend, how can you ensure security? Will the police be there in schools? This was done by students to another student. Who will protect her [victim]?”

The party swiftly distanced itself from the remarks, issuing a statement on X, “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 reflect the position of the party in any manner whatsoever.”

However, Banerjee challenged his own party’s stance, posting on X, “I completely disagree with the post made by AITCofficial on X. Are they indirectly supporting the leaders who are shielding these criminals? Mere academic statements won't bring any real change unless immediate action is taken against those leaders directly responsible... I also wish to clearly distance myself from those who are encouraging or protecting these criminals.”

Mitra, meanwhile, defended himself, writing, “...my statement has been totally misled and misused by a motivated group whose basic intention was to malign the image of our party AITC by wrongly focusing my statement to serve their own purpose.”

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