Bhubaneswar: Chairperson of the Odisha State Commission for Women Sovana Mohanty on Monday brushed aside West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s remarks, questioning the need for girls to step out at night in the aftermath of the alleged gang-rape of an Odia medical student in Durgapur.
“Let her speak. She does not feel the pain. We will hold counselling with the medical student. It is incorrect to say ‘Women should not go out at night.’ You should assure women (of safety),” Mohanty told ANI ahead of the commission’s visit to Durgapur on Monday to meet the survivor’s family.
A three-member team from the commission is travelling to Durgapur to inquire into the case. “The team will meet the survivor and her family, assess her health, and review the ongoing investigation before submitting a report to the Odisha government.. What is being done to fast-track the cases of the three accused who have been arrested, and why has the one accused not been arrested?… We demand that the victim get justice,” she added.
What Did Mamata Say?
During a press briefing on Sunday, Mamata said colleges should not allow girls to go outside at night. “I’m shocked to see the incident, but private medical colleges also should take care of their students, and especially girls. The girls should not be allowed to go outside (college) at night. They have to protect themselves also,” she said.
The second-year MBBS student, who hails from Odisha, was allegedly gang-raped by unidentified men near the college campus when she was out with a male friend on Friday night.
Mamata, while defending the police, said officers cannot be expected to monitor who leaves their homes at night or guard every household. “If someone goes out at 12:30 a.m… anyone can go anywhere that is their right… but there is a system for those who stay in hostels,” the Bengal CM added, drawing flak from the Opposition.
‘Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee LIED’
Father of the 23-year-old Odia medical student has disputed Mamata’s claim that his daughter left her hostel campus after midnight. “My daughter was sexually assaulted between 8 pm and 9 pm on Friday. Yet the CM falsely claimed the incident happened past midnight,” he said, while criticising her for the insensitive remark suggesting women should not be out at night despite being a woman herself.
On Monday, BJP Information Technology cell chief Amit Malviya also took to X and said that the medical student left the premises at 8pm, calling it ‘a decent hour’. “West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee LIED about the girl being out at 12.30 am. The truth is that, as per IQ City Medical College & Hospital, the girl went out at 8 pm, which is a decent hour by any standard,” he said.
“The girl student, a Dalit, was not gang raped inside the college campus. Hence, the responsibility of ensuring her safety rests with the police and state administration. The Chief Minister tried to put the blame on the medical college,” Malviya further noted.
He highlighted that the forested area where the incident occurred lacked adequate lighting and was a known criminal hotspot, which the police had overlooked despite local awareness. “Therefore, the horrific gang rape of the second-year MBBS student represents a complete breakdown of law and order under Mamata Banerjee’s government,” he said.
The BJP leader further stated, “It won’t be a surprise if she negotiates with the Muslim community leaders in the region to botch the investigation and let the accused boys free for their support in the upcoming election. For Mamata Banerjee, every woman’s life and dignity have a price and are secondary to her political interests. She even tried to buy the silence of the parents of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital victim. She is abominable,” Malviya added.
Didi Disappoints, Says Deputy CM
In a post on X, Odisha Deputy CM Pravati Parida also slammed the Bengal CM for her remarks. “Mamata Banerjee, a woman leader and Chief Minister, popular as “Didi,” has disappointed women with her comment that “girls should not go out at night.” This statement has not only shocked and insulted me but also the four crore ninety lakh women in West Bengal. Instead of providing justice to victims, she is raising questions about girls’ rights and perpetuating gender-based inequality.”
“Moreover, if you have no compassion for an Odia girl victim, write to the Odisha government. We can understand the concerns of our children even in your state. It is utterly deplorable to lack a sense of shame. If girls cannot expect empathy, safety, and rights from a woman Chief Minister, then from whom can they expect it?,” she questioned.
Pratap Sarangi, BJP MP from Balasore, had also expressed dismay over Mamata’s “insensitive” comments. He criticised the Bengal CM for seemingly blaming the girl rather than focusing on ensuring justice in cases of sexual violence. “Law and order in West Bengal have collapsed. Sadly, a CM is advising girls to stay indoors at night, instead of guaranteeing their safety,” said Sarangi who hails from the same district as the gang-rape survivor.
Meanwhile, National Commission for Women (NCW) member Archana Majumdar also criticised Mamata’s statement, calling it “absurd” and urging her to focus on law and order. “How can we say that in the evening, a girl should stay locked in a room? Women are working in hospitals, IT, and sports. It is the Chief Minister’s responsibility to make laws that protect women, not to confine them,” she said.
