The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has taken a sharp jab at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee following her congratulatory message to the Indian women's cricket team on their World Cup victory. The exchange unfolded after India's historic win against South Africa in the Women's Cricket World Cup final.
Banerjee had posted on X (formerly Twitter), lauding the "Women in Blue" for their inspiring performance and declaring the nation's pride in their achievement. She specifically highlighted their fight and command throughout the tournament, stating that they serve as an inspiration for generations.
However, the BJP's West Bengal handle responded with a sarcastic retort, referencing a recent controversial statement made by Banerjee. The BJP's post read, "OMG they were playing till 12But you had told them to be home by 8 #Raat8Ta #WomensWorldCup2025". This was in direct reference to Banerjee's remarks made last month regarding a gang-rape case at a private medical college in Durgapur, where she questioned why the victim was out late at night. She had stated that young girls should not be allowed outside at night and must protect themselves.
Banerjee's earlier comment had sparked widespread condemnation, with critics accusing her of victim-blaming and deflecting responsibility from the state's law and order. The BJP had previously seized upon the issue, with leaders like Sukanta Majumdar and Gaurav Bhatia criticizing her remarks. Bhatia went so far as to call Banerjee a "blot on womanhood". The National Commission for Women also denounced the statement as "absurd".
The BJP's recent jibe on social media has reignited the controversy, drawing mixed reactions and sparking online debates between supporters of both parties. Some view it as a legitimate criticism of Banerjee's perceived hypocrisy, while others see it as an unnecessary politicization of a moment of national pride.
This incident is not the first time Banerjee has clashed with the BJP over sports-related issues. Last year, she accused the party of "saffronisation" after the Indian cricket team was allegedly asked to wear saffron practice jerseys. She also controversially claimed that India's loss in the Cricket World Cup final was due to the match being played in Gujarat, suggesting that the outcome would have been different if it had been held in Kolkata or Mumbai.
