TMC leaders’ remarks exhibit pervasive misogyny

THERE’s a sickening familiarity to the remarks by two senior leaders of the ruling party in West Bengal over the alleged rape of a law student in Kolkata. Once again, a brazen attempt has been made to place the blame on the victim. Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mahua Moitra has been blunt in expressing her dismay. Misogyny, she said, cuts across party lines. What makes it worse and even more reprehensible is that years of rule and leadership of a firebrand Chief Minister like Mamata Banerjee have failed to infuse sensitivity or a mindset change within the TMC. The crassness on display is certainly not confined to her state. Political slugfests in the aftermath of heinous crimes anywhere in the country invariably see deeply troubling patriarchal mores being unmasked, as well as the most shameful commentary.