Kolkata college rape case exposes TMC’s internal rift

The incident of alleged rape of a law student at a Kolkata college on Sunday brought out the internal rift within the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) as senior party leaders took potshots at each other, while the leadership distanced itself from the remarks of its Lok Sabha MP Kalyan Banjerjee and MLA Madan Mitra. MP Mahua Moitra described their statements as “disgusting”.

Banerjee retaliated against Moitra with a personal attack, referencing her recent honeymoon and accusing her of “breaking a family,” a remark related to her marriage with former BJD MP Pinaki Misra last month. This incident follows a public feud between the two Trinamool MPs, which is particularly concerning for the TMC as it prepares for the Assembly elections in West Bengal next year.

Earlier, Sreerampur MP Kalyan Banerjee made a controversial remark that 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)?”

Another controversial statement came from party MLA Madan Mitra, who said, “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 remarks drew condemnation on social media and the BJP tore into the Trinamool Congress, with senior party leader Amit Malviya calling the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool a “party of rape-sympathisers, rape enablers and serial offenders”.

Amid the row, the Trinamool leadership distanced itself from the two leaders’ remarks.

“The remarks made by MP Kalyan Banerjee and MLA Madan Mitra concerning the heinous crime at South Calcutta Law College were made in their personal capacities. 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 on X.

“Our stance remains resolute; we have zero tolerance for crimes against women and demand punishment for all those involved in this heinous crime,” the TMC added in the post.

Sharing Trinamool’s post, Moitra said, “misogyny in India cuts across party lines”. “What differentiates @AITCofficial is that we condemn these disgusting comments no matter who makes them,” she wrote. Moitra has, in the past, clashed with Banerjee on several occasions.