Mamata Banerjee’s remarks on mockery scandal in bad taste, says Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari
Mamata Banerjee’s remarks on mockery scandal in bad taste, says Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari
The alleged rape and subsequent death of a Class XI student at Hanskhali in West Bengal’s Nadia district on Monday led the opposition to attack the Trinamool Congress government. While the main accused and village head member’s son, Brajgopal Gayali alias Sohail, was arrested on Sunday, it was a comment by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee that sparked strong political reactions.
The family members of the 14-year-old girl said that the alleged rape took place on April 4 when she had gone to attend the birthday party of the son of a local Trinamool Congress leader. The parents said that he died the next day on April 5 due to excessive bleeding. The parents allege that the Trinamool Congress leader’s family tried to burn the girl’s body by forcibly pouring kerosene. Sohail is the son of local Trinamool leader Samar Gayali, who is a member of Gajna gram panchayat.
Speaking at an event organized by the state government, Ms Banerjee wondered whether the incident could be called a case of rape, love affair, pregnancy or any other reason.
“Are you going to call it rape or pregnant or love affair? I asked the police. It was a bad thing, and an arrest has been made; But I have heard that there was a love affair between the boy and the girl. Was it real rape? Or was she pregnant? Or was there some other reason? Or was he repeatedly slapped? Even her family members knew that she was having an affair,” Ms Banerjee said.
“If a guy or a girl is having an affair, how can I stop her? This is not UP [Uttar Pradesh] That I will start love jihad program. 5. child’s death th10 to the police. but found out th, if someone dies 5 th And if there was any ground for suspicion or any complaint, then why the complaint was not lodged with the police on 5 th on one’s own? You burnt the body. I am speaking as a common man, without knowing full details. From where will they get the evidence?,” the chief minister asked. Ms Banerjee tried to state that the “arrest has been made, and no political color is considered at the time of arrest”.
Condemnation of CM’s statement
Leaders of BJP, Congress and Left condemned the chief minister’s remarks. “The Chief Minister’s remarks on the Hanskhali incident are in bad taste. She is asking if it was a love affair. Why did the police not intervene and stop the burning of the dead body. Why was the post-mortem not done,” Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari asked. The official, who met the Governor in connection with the incident, said that a BJP delegation would visit Hanskhali.
State Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury asked why the chief minister was “advocating rape”. State Secretary of Communist Party of India (Marxist) Mohammad Salim asked why the Chief Minister was making the claim before investigation. “She may have expertise in love, marriage, pregnancy, but it has nothing to do with law and order. All she can do is ask her party supporters not to indulge in such heinous acts. Every day such incidents are happening,” Mr. Saleem said sarcastically.
Governor sought report
Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar has sought a report from the Chief Secretary on the incident of “alleged gang rape of a 14-year-old girl in Nadia”.
Earlier in the day, a division bench of Chief Justice Prakash Srivastava and Justice Rajarshi Bhardwaj admitted a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition on the matter, which is likely to be heard on Tuesday.
The bench is also hearing a plea for alleged rape of an 11-year-old girl on March 25 at Matia in North 24 Parganas district. On Monday, the police in Kakdwip of South 24 Parganas registered a case on the allegation of a woman. Raped and then the criminals tried to burn her. The victim has been admitted to the government hospital.