As protests continue in Kolkata and other parts of the country over the alleged rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor, old remarks by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on rape and sexual assaults have resurfaced on social media. Doctors, nurses, and other protesters have been seeking justice for the woman, whose body was found in a reportedly half-naked state in the seminar hall of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
Social media users have criticized CM Banerjee for her past comments on rape cases, describing them as “bizarre,” “disgusting,” and “insensitive.” Some of these controversial statements include:
- Park Street Rape Case 2012: After a woman was gang-raped in a moving car, Banerjee dismissed the incident as a “shajano ghatana” (fake incident) meant to embarrass her government. She later retracted her statement, accusing the media of misrepresenting her words.
- October 2012 Remarks: Banerjee controversially claimed that rape cases were increasing because of greater social interaction between men and women, likening the situation to an “open market with open options.”
- Nadia Rape Case 2022: Following the gang rape of a 14-year-old girl in Nadia, Banerjee questioned whether it should be called rape, suggesting it might have been a consensual relationship. She emphasized that the girl was in a relationship, stating, “This is not UP, we don’t do Love Jihad here.”
- Katwa Rape Case 2012: After a 31-year-old widow was allegedly gang-raped, Banerjee dismissed the case as a politically motivated fabrication by the CPI(M), citing a lack of medical evidence.
- Kamduni Rape Case 2013: In response to the gang rape and murder of a 20-year-old woman, Banerjee faced backlash for accusing the victim’s family of being CPM supporters involved in “nasty politics” when she visited them.
In the wake of the recent Kolkata doctor rape case, Banerjee’s remarks have once again drawn criticism. She claimed that both the Left (Bam) and the BJP (Ram) were trying to create unrest in Bengal, referring to the vandalism at RG Kar Hospital.
BJP leaders, including West Bengal General Secretary Locket Chatterjee and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, condemned Banerjee’s statements. Pradhan accused her government of systemic failure and criticized her for blaming opposition parties, calling her comments “disgusting, shameful, and reprehensible.”
On Friday, Mamata Banerjee held a protest demanding justice for the victim and capital punishment for the accused in the Kolkata doctor rape case.
