‘She broke a family’: Kalyan Banerjee’s retort to Mahua Moitra as Kolkata rape case exposes fissures in Trinamool Congress

The alleged gang-rape of a student at a Kolkata law college has exposed the growing differences within the ruling Trinamool Congress as the war of words between party MPs Kalyan Banerjee and Mahua Moitra intensified on Sunday.

 

In the latest flare-up, Banerjee launched a direct and personal attack on Moitra, accusing her of breaking a family by marrying a 65-year-old man.

 

It all started on Friday when Banerjee, the Serampore MP, made a controversial remark on the rape incident, which many flagged as victim-blaming.

 

"If a friend rapes a friend, how can you ensure security? Will there be police in schools? This was done by students to another student. Who will protect her (victim)?,” he said.

 

On Saturday, another Trinamool Congress leader Madan Mitra also stirred up a political storm, leaving the ruling party on the defensive.

 

"This incident has sent a message to girls that if someone calls you when the college is closed, don't go; nothing good will come of it. If that girl had not gone there, this incident wouldn't have happened," he said.

 

The TMC soon went into damage control by distancing itself from the party leader’s remarks.

 

“The party unequivocally disassociates itself from their statements and strongly condemns the same. These views do not reflect the position of the party in any manner whatsoever," it said in a statement.

 

Moitra, one of the most vocal woman politicians, took to X to condemn her party colleagues’ statements and said misogyny in India cuts across party lines.

 

"What differentiates the Trinamool Congress is that we condemn these disgusting comments no matter who makes them,” she said.

 

Her remarks, however, have now drawn a sharp retort from Banerjee who said the Krishnanagar MP is against all women leaders of her constituency.

 

"Mahua Moitra has come back to India after completing her honeymoon. And after coming back to India, she has started fighting against me. She is saying I am anti-women. What is she? She has broken up a family and married a 65-year-old guy. And she is saying I am anti-women. She is against all women leaders of her constituency. She doesn't allow anyone to work," he said.

 

A 24-year-old student at South Calcutta Law College was allegedly gang-raped by three men, including an alumnus of the institute, on June 25. Following the victim's complaint, the police have arrested prime accused Manojit Mishra, Promit Mukherjee and Zaid Ahmed. A guard of the college was also apprehended on Saturday morning.

India