West Bengal Chief Minister is facing massive criticism from the public and opposition parties for her flak comment on the 14-year-old’s alleged gang rape by the son of a local TMC leader and his friends.
Since Monday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee found herself embroiled in another controversy due to her harsh remarks on the Nadia Rape Case. The victim’s father slammed the Chief Minister for her comments on his daughter, who was allegedly gang-raped and later died at Hanskhali, Nadia district.
During the inauguration of the `Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan,’ CM Mamata Banerjee broke her silence and questioned whether the victim was indeed raped by pertaining it to be a ‘love affair.’ A political turmoil has erupted after her insensitive remark by the opposition and other parties, calling it ‘victim-blaming nadia rape case.
The National Commission for Women condemned the CM.’s remark as ‘unfortunate.’ As per the POCSO Act, 2012, even consensual sex of a minor is considered rape or crime. The opposition, Bharatiya Janta Party, lashed out on Mamata Banerjee, calling it shameful. Showing his agony in the remarks, the victim’s father asked how a chief minister could say such things and requested the government to get justice for her daughter. The Calcutta High Court handed over the case to CBI and has asked them to submit reports by May 2.
This remark of the CM shows the deep patriarchal issues embedded in society. Previously during the 2012 Park Street Rape Case, in which a woman was raped for hours in a moving car, Mamta had called it as a ‘fabricating case’ used to tarnish the government’s image. Moreover, it coming
from a lady makes it even more disappointing. It is outrageous to see her supporting the son of a leader from her party, TMC.
Last week on April 5th, a minor girl aged 14 years old was allegedly gang-raped when she went to a birthday party of the son of a local Trinamool Congress Leader. She returned home and was bleeding profusely and later died. The victim’s family lodged a complaint about the incident five days later, on 10th April. The prime accused, Brajagopal Gayali alias Sohail (21), has been arrested under sections 376(2)(G) (gangrape), 302 (murder), 204 (tampering with evidence) of the IPC and relevant sections of the POCSO) Act.
Published by Diwakar Kumar
Edited by: Aaradhana Singh
