‘Misogyny Cuts Across Parties’: Mahua Moitra Slams TMC Leaders’ Remarks On Kolkata Gangrape Case

Last Updated:June 29, 2025, 07:42 IST

The controversial comments with regard to the law student’s gangrape made by Banerjee and Mitra have created a huge public outcry in the state.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra took a direct jibe at her party leaders’ controversial statements in reference to the Kolkata law student’s gangrape, saying that misogyny exists in every party, but Mamata Banerjee-led party is different as it condemns its own leaders for their loose talk.

“Misogyny in India cuts across party lines. What differentiates @AITCofficial is that we condemn these disgusting comments no matter who makes them,” Moitra posted on X, tagging a TMC post, in which it made its official stand clear on the party leaders’ statements.

Moitra’s remarks came after the TMC publicly distanced itself from its MP Kalyan Banerjee and MLA Madan Mitra over their controversial remarks on the Kolkata law college gangrape case.

“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,” the TMC said in a post on X.

However, the party’s censure prompted a sharp response from Kalyan Banerjee, who questioned the party’s moral clarity. “Completely disagree with the post made by @AITCofficial on X. Are they indirectly supporting the leaders who are shielding these criminals? Mere academic statements won’t bring any real change unless immediate action is taken against those leaders directly responsible,” he said.

Banerjee further said, “What’s even more unfortunate is that some of the leaders who emerged after 2011 are themselves under question in such crimes. I also wish to clearly distance myself from those who are encouraging or protecting these criminals. To truly understand the intent behind my words and statements, a certain level of moral and intellectual alignment is required — which, unfortunately, seems to be missing.”

Meanwhile, Banerjee also took a veiled swipe at sections within his own party, alleging that some leaders who rose to prominence after 2011 were themselves facing serious allegations. “What’s even more unfortunate is that some of the leaders who emerged after 2011 are themselves under question in such crimes,” he said.

The controversial comments with regard to the law student’s gangrape made by Banerjee and Mitra have created a huge public outcry in the state.

On Friday, Kalyan Banerjee asserted that women need to be discerning about their male companions, particularly those with “dirty mindsets.” In a similar vein of victim-blaming, Madan Mitra commented that the law student might have avoided her predicament had she not attended college alone.

Banerjee also drew flank after he questioned, “What can be done if a friend rapes his friend?”

While saying that the accused should be arrested, Banerjee asked whether the police can be there in schools. “This was done by students to another student. Who will protect her (victim)?”

Kolkata Gangrape Case

A 24-year-old woman student of South Calcutta Law College was gang-raped for which three men were arrested apart from a college security guard.

Main accused Monojit Mishra, 31, a former student and current Organising Secretary of the South Kolkata district of the Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad (TMCP), was produced before the Alipore court on Friday, along with the other two accused, and was sent to police custody till July 1.

The other two accused have been identified as Zaib Ahmed, 19, and Pramit Mukhopadhyay, 20, both third-semester students of the college.

The case has heightened concerns over safety of women in Kolkata campuses, coming less than a year after the dastardly rape and murder case of a post-graduate trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

What’s In The Complaint?

In her complaint lodged on June 26, the victim said she had gone to the college to fill a form for a test and was forced to stay back in the union room even after it was completed.

“Then one of the three accused proposed her to marry but she refused telling them she was already in a relationship,” the police officer said as reported by the news agency.

Subsequently, Mishra allegedly ordered the campus gate to be locked. In the evening, he expressed romantic interest and made unwanted advances, which she rejected. She alleged that he then forced himself on her.

“I denied and fought back. I cried and asked him to let me go. I told them I have a boyfriend and I love my boyfriend. But he did not listen,” she told the police.

Mishra allegedly threatened to harm her boyfriend and falsely implicate her parents in criminal cases before confining her within the college premises. She alleged in her complaint that he hit her with a hockey stick. During the incident, she experienced breathing difficulties and asked for an inhaler. After using it, she was taken to the security guard’s room on the ground floor, next to the students’ union office, where the assault allegedly continued.

“I touched his feet but he didn’t let me go …,” she told the police in the complaint, adding that while Mishra was allegedly raping her, the other two stood by and watched.

Shobhit Gupta

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben…Read More

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben… Read More

First Published: