Not A Single Incident Of Violence Against Women Should Occur In State Helmed By Woman CM: TMC MP Saugata Roy

In the light of Roy’s comment, the Opposition parties asked the MP to share his ‘piece of advice’ with the CM instead of making public statements.

New Delhi: Condemning the recent incident of alleged gangrape of a minor girl in West Bengal’s Hanskhali, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Saugata Roy on Thursday said not a single incident of violence against women should occur in a state helmed by a woman chief minister.

Speaking at a programme in North 24 Parganas, Roy, as quoted by news agency PTI said, “Crimes against women are unacceptable. It is a matter of shame for all of us even if a single crime incident against women is reported in the state which is helmed by a woman chief minister. We should have zero tolerance of crime against women.”

On the other hand, asserting that women are safe in the state under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s leadership, TMC state general secretary and spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, “I don't want to comment on what he (Roy) has said. The women of the state are safe and secure in West Bengal under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee. The chief minister herself directed the police to take stern action.”   

Roy’s comment comes days after a minor girl died after being allegedly gangraped by the son of a ruling TMC panchayat leader at Hanskhali. The Calcutta High Court handed over the probe to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and ordered senior police officer Damayanti Sen to investigate four rape incidents in West Bengal.

Meanwhile, in the light of Roy’s comment, the Opposition parties asked the MP to share his ‘piece of advice’ with the CM instead of making public statements.

BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said, “Whatever he has said is right. But he should say this to his party supremo Mamata Banerjee and ask her to stop the lawless situation in the state. Until and unless he does that, it seems his comments are an attempt to play to the gallery.”

State Congress president Adhir Chowdhury, seconded Majumdar’s opinion saying, “Roy has been saying many things that sound music to our ears. But will he condemn the statements made by the chief minister after the Hanskhali incident. He should first do that.”

Senior CPI (M) leader Sujan Chakraborty, in support of Roy’s remark, said, “It seems he has realized that Bengal has earned a bad reputation for lawless situation in the state. But he should first ask the chief minister to establish the rule of law in the state.”

Notably, the minor girl was allegedly gangraped on the occasion of a birthday party at the house of a TMC panchayat leader's son at Hanskhali in Nadia district on April 4, according to the police complaint lodged by the victim’s parents. The girl bled to death hours after the incident, the complaint further said.

Two persons, including the TMC leader’s son, have been arrested in connection with the case so far, police said.

Meanwhile, CM Banerjee drew flak from the opposition parties over her statement on the incident. On April 11, Banerjee publicly expressed doubt over the cause of the girl’s death and questioned if the victim was actually raped or was she in a relation with the accused that got her pregnant.