Another TMC Minister's 'Small Incident' Remark On Kolkata College Rape Sparks Row; BJP Slams Mamata
Earlier, TMC leaders Madan Mitra and Kalyan Banerjee had triggered a row with their remarks on the sexual assault of the first-year law student on the premises of the South Calcutta Law College on June 25.
Another West Bengal minister on Tuesday sparked a controversy for trivialising the recent Kolkata law college gang-rape case. This time, Trinamool Congress leader Manas Bhunia stirred a row after he allegedly called the crime a "small incident".
Following his remark, the Bharatiya Janata Party launched a scathing attack at the ruling TMC for the comment made by its leaders, calling the Mamata Banerjee-led party a "protector of rapists" that has "institutionalised misogyny".
Earlier, TMC leaders Madan Mitra and Kalyan Banerjee had triggered a row with their remarks on the sexual assault of the first-year law student on the premises of the South Calcutta Law College on June 25.
BJP West Bengal co-incharge Amit Malviya shared a video clip of state irrigation minister Manas Bhunia on X, wherein the TMC leader can be heard making the purported statement.
"As the entire nation reels in horror over the unspeakable brutality inflicted upon the 24-year-old law aspirant, TMC leaders are busy normalising rape to earn brownie points from their political boss — Mamata Banerjee," Amit Malviya wrote.
He added that TMC MLA Madan Mitra had previously blamed the victim for her fate, followed by MP Kalyan Banerjee who asked, "What can be done if a friend rapes a friends?"
"Now, State Irrigation Minister Manas Bhunia, another face of this depraved regime, brushed off the atrocity as a “small incident” and urged party workers to ignore it and move forward — drawing strength from Mamata Banerjee’s silence and tacit approval," the BJP leader added.
As the entire nation reels in horror over the unspeakable brutality inflicted upon the 24-year-old law aspirant, TMC leaders are busy normalising rape to earn brownie points from their political boss — Mamata Banerjee.
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) July 1, 2025
First, TMC’s Madan Mitra, infamous for his own vulgarities,… pic.twitter.com/xg2RHSIac1
The BJP leader said that the survivor "was shattered, brutalised, and filmed by TMC student leaders." After the matter was brought to light, Monojit Mishra, an alumnus of the college and a former member of the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) was arrested for the alleged gang-rape. Two other students were arrested along with him. Later, the security guard of the college was also arrested by Kolkata Police.
The BJP leader said, "This is not just a crime. It is symptomatic of a party that has institutionalised misogyny."
Describing what he called Mamata Banerjee's Bengal, Malviya wrote: "Where a woman's dignity is expendable, as long as the rapist chants the right political slogan."
TMC Clarifies, Hits Back At BJP
The Trinamool Congress later slammed the BJP over Manas Bhunia's clip, accusing the party of launching a “full-scale smear campaign”.
The party said it was an excerpt from the state minister's speech which was "maliciously" taken out of context, "misquoted and circulated to mislead viewers about the Kasba incident".
Bhunia himself issued a clarification over his remarks in which he strongly condemned the Kolkata gang-rape incident.
"Our party strongly condemns the Kasba incident. I, Manas Bhunia, also strongly condemn it. The police have taken prompt action and made immediate arrests. Our Chief Minister does not tolerate such incidents. I would like to clarify that my previous comments were not related to the Kasba incident. They have been misrepresented and linked to the unfortunate incident in an attempt to malign and defame me. I reiterate - I strongly condemn this incident," Bhunia said.
The TMC further said that the BJP know that defamation has consequences. "No matter how loud the lies, truth will prevail," it added.
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