The aftermath of a gang rape of a law student in Kolkata has triggered a fierce war of words within the Trinamool Congress (TMC), exposing a rift between party leaders and sparking a debate about misogyny and victim-blaming. The controversy centers on comments made by TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee regarding the incident, which were perceived as insensitive and victim-blaming, and the subsequent response from fellow MP Mahua Moitra.
On June 25, 2025, a 24-year-old law student was allegedly gang-raped within the premises of South Calcutta Law College. The survivor filed a First Information Report (FIR) on June 26, leading to the arrest of three men: Monojit Mishra, a former student and alleged leader of the TMC's youth wing, and Pramit Mukherjee and Zaib Ahmed, believed to be current students. The police also arrested the college's security guard, Pinaki Banerjee.
In the wake of the arrests, Kalyan Banerjee made a statement that drew immediate condemnation. He questioned, "What can be done if a friend rapes his friend?" and further asked, "Who will protect her?" implying that police protection at every school or college was impossible. These remarks were widely interpreted as downplaying the severity of the crime and shifting responsibility away from the perpetrators. Adding to the outrage, TMC MLA Madan Mitra also made controversial comments, suggesting the survivor could have avoided the assault if she had not gone to the college after hours. "If someone calls you when the college is closed offering you a position in the unit, then don't go. Nothing good will come of it," Mitra stated.
Mahua Moitra responded to the remarks made by Kalyan Banerjee and Madan Mitra by criticizing her own party colleagues, emphasizing that misogyny transcends party lines in India. Moitra took to social media platform X to express her views. She stated that "misogyny in India cuts across party lines," and emphasized that the TMC's distinction lies in its willingness to condemn such comments, regardless of who makes them. Moitra was referring to a TMC statement in which it disassociated itself from party leaders Kalyan Banerjee and Madan Mitra's controversial comments with regard to the law student's gang-rape.
In response to Moitra's criticism, Kalyan Banerjee launched a personal attack against her. Banerjee referred to Moitra's recent marriage to former BJD MP Pinaki Misra and accused her of "breaking a family". "Mahua has come back to India after completing her honeymoon. And after coming back to India, she has started fighting against me," he said. He also brought up her expulsion from Parliament for breach of ethics and accused her of being anti-women and only knowing how to make money. "She has broken up a family and married a 65-year-old guy. And she is saying I am anti-women," Banerjee said.
The TMC leadership has attempted to distance itself from the controversial remarks made by Banerjee and Mitra. The party issued a statement asserting that the comments were made in their personal capacities and did not reflect the party's position. The TMC reiterated its zero-tolerance policy on crimes against women and called for the strictest possible punishment for those involved in the Kolkata gangrape.
The incident has sparked a political storm, with the BJP accusing the TMC of being a "party of rape-sympathizers, rape enablers and serial offenders". BJP leader Amit Malviya called the statements "vile and shameful". The BJP has also constituted a four-member fact-finding committee to investigate the incident. The controversy has reignited debates on women's safety, victim-shaming, and the responsibility of elected representatives in shaping public discourse.
