The All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) strongly condemns the insensitivity of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee towards the sexual violence committed on the medical student in West Bengal. A female student from Odisha studying in a private medical college in Durgapur city was gang-raped on Friday. Instead of accepting the failure of TMC state government to protect women in West Bengal, the CM tried to shirk her responsibility by holding the victim herself responsible for the brutal gang rape. It is highly objectionable that Mamata Banerjee should question the right of women to move in the night.
Women in West Bengal are increasingly becoming victims of horrific assaults and sexual violence. The TMC government has been ignoring this reality and refusing to take stringent steps against the criminals accused of these crimes. The CM’s advise to women to not go out at night is a direct admission of the fact that West Bengal is unsafe for women. This Manuwadi mindset, similar to the RSS, is unacceptable.
AIDWA has vehemently protested and is organizing various demonstrations against the brutality across the state. Protests will be held during the day as well as night asserting the right of women to safe public spaces. AIDWA demands immediate strong steps to curb violence, rehabilitation of the victim and free and fair investigation leading to conviction of the accused in this gangrape.
