The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has taken action against two of its leaders following controversial remarks they made regarding the alleged gang rape of a law student in Kolkata. The incident has sparked outrage and put the party in a difficult position, especially with assembly polls due in Bengal next year.

The controversy stems from statements made by TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee and MLA Madan Mitra in the wake of the alleged gang rape of a 24-year-old law student inside South Calcutta Law College on June 25. Banerjee questioned what could be done if a friend rapes another friend, asking how government authorities could provide protection in such cases and whether police could be present in schools. Mitra suggested that the incident could have been avoided if the victim had not gone alone or had taken friends with her. He stated that the incident sent a message to girls that they should not go if someone calls them when the college is closed.

These remarks have been widely criticized as insensitive and victim-blaming. Opposition parties have seized on the comments to attack the TMC, questioning the safety and security of women in West Bengal. The BJP has been particularly vocal, with leaders like Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan alleging a rise in horrific crimes in the state and asserting that the attackers were "goons associated with the ruling TMC". BJP president J P Nadda has even formed a four-member committee to investigate the matter.

In response to the backlash, the TMC has attempted to distance itself from the remarks made by Banerjee and Mitra. The party issued a show-cause notice to Mitra, calling his comments "uncalled for and insensitive" and stating that they had affected the party's image. The party also publicly stated that the remarks were made in their personal capacities and did not reflect the party's position. The TMC reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on crimes against women and demanded the strictest possible punishment for those involved in the alleged gang rape.

However, the controversy has also exposed internal rifts within the TMC. Following the party's attempt to distance itself from the remarks, Banerjee questioned whether the party was indirectly supporting leaders who were shielding criminals. TMC MP Mahua Moitra took a dig at the leaders who made insensitive remarks. Banerjee then launched a fresh attack on Moitra, saying that she joined the party after it came to power in 2011.

The alleged gang rape and the subsequent comments by TMC leaders have created a political storm in West Bengal. The incident has raised concerns about women's safety and has provided ammunition for the opposition to attack the ruling party. The TMC is now scrambling to control the damage and present a united front as it faces criticism from both inside and outside the party.