New Delhi: After receiving criticism for her statements regarding the Durgapur gang-rape case, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stated on Sunday that her comments had been “distorted” by the media. Speaking in Alipurduar, where she was visiting areas affected by floods and landslides, she asserted, “You ask me a question, I answer it, and then you distort it. Do not try this kind of politics,” as reported by the news agency ANI.
Earlier, while addressing reporters at Kolkata airport before heading to north Bengal, Banerjee remarked that “girls should avoid going out late at night.” She noted, “The girl was studying in a private medical college. How did she come out at night at 12:30? As far as I know, it (the incident) occurred in a forest area. Investigation is ongoing. I’m shocked to see the incident, but private medical colleges should also take care of their students. Particularly, girls should not be allowed to come outside at nighttime. They have to protect themselves too,” she stated.
These comments led to a significant backlash, particularly from opposition members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla criticized the Congress for its lack of response, asking, “Will the outrage lobby, who was shouting yesterday — Supriya Shrinate, Priyanka Vadra, Rahul Gandhi, etc. — open their mouths now?” This reference was in response to recent controversies, including the exclusion of female journalists from a press conference featuring Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.
In a statement, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia accused Banerjee of “victim-blaming,” declaring, “Shameless @MamataOfficial, a blot on womanhood, especially for being a CM. After RG Kar and Sandeshkhali, now this horrific case of rape, and instead of justice, she blames the victim.” He called for Banerjee to resign and be held legally accountable.
