NEW DELHI: The Trinamool Congress on Saturday publicly distanced itself from party MP Kalyan Banerjee and MLA Madan Mitra over their controversial remarks on the Kolkata law college gang-rape case, prompting Banerjee to hit back at the party’s statement, saying a "moral and intellectual alignment" was lacking.
In an official post on X, the party said, “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.”
Backing the party’s statement, TMC MP Mahua Moitra wrote on X: “Misogyny in India cuts across party lines. What differentiates @AITCofficial is that we condemn these disgusting comments no matter who makes them.”
However, the party's censure prompted a sharp response from Kalyan Banerjee, who posted a strongly worded reply on X, questioning 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 wrote.
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 backlash followed remarks made by Banerjee on Friday when he said, “What can be done if a friend rapes his friend? Will the police be there in schools? This was done by students to another student. Who will protect her?” While he maintained that the accused should be arrested, his comments were widely criticised for appearing to shift responsibility away from the perpetrators.
Earlier in the day, TMC MLA Madan Mitra also sparked outrage for blaming the survivor. “If someone calls you when the college is closed, then don't go. If she had taken a friend or informed someone, this wouldn’t have happened,” he had said.
The alleged gang-rape took place on June 25 at South Calcutta Law College. The 24-year-old complainant accused three men - Manojit Mishra, Pramit Mukherjee, and Zaib Ahmed - of taking her to a guard’s room, raping her, recording the assault, and threatening to leak the video. She said she was confined for over three hours and was hit with a hockey stick when she resisted.
All three accused were arrested within 24 hours. Mishra, a former Trinamool Chhatra Parishad office-bearer, was working at the college on a temporary staff contract and is a practising lawyer. The college’s security guard, Pinaki Banerjee, has also been arrested. The accused are in police custody until July 1, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been set up.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken suo motu cognisance of the incident and demanded a time-bound probe. The BJP, meanwhile, has launched an attack on chief minister Mamata Banerjee, with senior leaders demanding her resignation and accusing the state government of failing to protect women.
In an official post on X, the party said, “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.”
Misogyny in India cuts across party lines. What differentiates @AITCofficial is that we condemn these disgusting comments no matter who makes them. https://t.co/2AQ59fQK4w
— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) June 28, 2025
Backing the party’s statement, TMC MP Mahua Moitra wrote on X: “Misogyny in India cuts across party lines. What differentiates @AITCofficial is that we condemn these disgusting comments no matter who makes them.”
However, the party's censure prompted a sharp response from Kalyan Banerjee, who posted a strongly worded reply on X, questioning 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 wrote.
I 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. What's…
— Kalyan Banerjee (@KBanerjee_AITC) June 28, 2025
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 backlash followed remarks made by Banerjee on Friday when he said, “What can be done if a friend rapes his friend? Will the police be there in schools? This was done by students to another student. Who will protect her?” While he maintained that the accused should be arrested, his comments were widely criticised for appearing to shift responsibility away from the perpetrators.
Earlier in the day, TMC MLA Madan Mitra also sparked outrage for blaming the survivor. “If someone calls you when the college is closed, then don't go. If she had taken a friend or informed someone, this wouldn’t have happened,” he had said.
The alleged gang-rape took place on June 25 at South Calcutta Law College. The 24-year-old complainant accused three men - Manojit Mishra, Pramit Mukherjee, and Zaib Ahmed - of taking her to a guard’s room, raping her, recording the assault, and threatening to leak the video. She said she was confined for over three hours and was hit with a hockey stick when she resisted.
All three accused were arrested within 24 hours. Mishra, a former Trinamool Chhatra Parishad office-bearer, was working at the college on a temporary staff contract and is a practising lawyer. The college’s security guard, Pinaki Banerjee, has also been arrested. The accused are in police custody until July 1, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been set up.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken suo motu cognisance of the incident and demanded a time-bound probe. The BJP, meanwhile, has launched an attack on chief minister Mamata Banerjee, with senior leaders demanding her resignation and accusing the state government of failing to protect women.
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