“Blot on Womanhood”: BJP Accuses Mamata of ‘Brazenly Lying’ After Victim-Shaming Remark on Bengal Rape Horror

A fierce political firestorm has erupted in West Bengal following the alleged gang-rape of a medical student in Durgapur, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launching a relentless and strongly-worded attack on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of “brazenly lying” to backtrack from a controversial statement widely condemned as “victim-shaming.”

The controversy stems from Banerjee’s initial remarks following the horrific incident involving a 23-year-old MBBS student near a private medical college. When addressing the media, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo had questioned the circumstances, stating: “How did she come out at 12.30 am? As far as I know, it happened in the jungle… Especially, the girls should not be allowed to come outside at night-time. They (female students) have to protect themselves also.” She also appeared to shift responsibility to the private college, asking why the student was allowed to leave the campus late at night.

These comments immediately triggered a massive political and public backlash, with the Opposition, led by the BJP, accusing the Chief Minister, who is also the state’s Home Minister, of insensitivity and blaming the survivor instead of focusing on the breakdown of law and order.

BJP leaders escalated their attack after the Chief Minister, amidst the severe criticism, claimed that her words had been “deliberately distorted” by the media.

‘Blot on Womanhood’ and Call for Resignation

BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia tore into the Chief Minister’s handling of the situation, labeling her a “blot on womanhood.” Bhatia stated on a social media platform, “Shameless @MamataOfficial a blot on womanhood, even more for being a CM. After [past high-profile cases], now this horrific case of rape and instead of justice, she blames the victim! A Chief Minister who tells girls not to go out at night, rather than ensuring their safety, has no moral right to stay in office.” He further demanded her immediate resignation, saying she must “be held accountable under the law.”

Other senior BJP figures echoed this sentiment. Union Minister and BJP leader Sukanta Majumdar called her initial remark “utterly deplorable and shameful,” arguing that the Chief Minister was attempting to evade responsibility for what he termed the “absolute collapse of law and order” in the state. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla accused Banerjee of “victim shaming and blaming,” asserting, “Instead of standing with the Beti (daughter), she blames the Beti.”

The BJP has been quick to frame the controversy as a repeated failure of the TMC government on women’s safety, referencing earlier incidents. They have vehemently rejected Banerjee’s later claim of being misquoted, calling it a desperate attempt to cover up a statement that betrayed a fundamental lack of concern for the victim.

TMC Urges Against ‘Politicising’ the Crime

While the Chief Minister sought to clarify her statement, a West Bengal Minister Shashi Panja appealed to the BJP not to “politicise” the crime against women, asserting that the Chief Minister had zero tolerance for such injustice and that the police were taking stringent action. Three people have been arrested in connection with the crime.

However, the political confrontation remains heated. The controversy has not only intensified the battle between the two main political rivals in Bengal but has also led to calls from the victim’s family, who hail from Odisha, to have their daughter shifted back to their home state, citing safety concerns in West Bengal.

The National Commission for Women (NCW) has also taken suo motu cognizance of the case, dispatching a member to Durgapur to meet the survivor’s family and review the ongoing investigation. The incident, compounded by the Chief Minister’s controversial comments, ensures that the issue of women’s safety and the administration’s accountability will remain at the forefront of the state’s political discourse.