Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has strongly criticized West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s remarks concerning a recent gangrape incident in Durgapur. Rijiju took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his displeasure, alleging that certain media outlets and self-proclaimed liberal journalists, whom he referred to as an ‘illiberal gang,’ were unfairly silent on Banerjee’s comments.
He stated, “Imagine, if this statement was made by a BJP Chief Minister! The whole echo-system and self declared liberal journalists (actually illiberal gang) would have created unbearable situation in the country.”
The controversy erupted following the alleged gangrape of a second-year student at a private medical college in Durgapur. Chief Minister Banerjee had questioned the survivor’s decision to leave the campus late at night, stating, “We take cases like these very seriously in Bengal. Three persons have been arrested and investigation is on. But how could the student leave the campus at night? It is a forest area. The private medical college must take care of its students.”
Banerjee later claimed that the media had distorted her words. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has criticized the West Bengal government, accusing it of failing to protect women. BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia labeled Banerjee as a “blot on womanhood,” pointing to previous incidents and stating, “After RG Kar and Sandeshkhali, now this horrific case of rape and instead of justice, she blames the victim.” Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar also voiced criticism, questioning the chief minister’s stance.