"Unfortunate that women are unsafe in Maa Durga's Bengal": BJP's Bansuri Swaraj over Durgapur gangrape

New Delhi [India], October 12 : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Bansuri Swaraj on Sunday strongly criticised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over her "insensitive" remarks following the alleged gangrape of a medical student in Durgapur, saying the statement reflects the "conservative mindset" of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).
Speaking to ANI, Swaraj condemned the incident and said it was "unfortunate" that women were unsafe in a state regarded as the land of Goddess Durga.
"It's unfortunate that women are unsafe in Mother Durga's Bengal. The state's woman Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, makes such insensitive comments. She blames the rape survivor. I believe this reflects the TMC's conservative mindset..." the BJP MP said.
Swaraj urged the Chief Minister to focus on ensuring justice for the victim and creating a secure environment for women across the state.
She asserted, "I would like to tell Mamata Banerjee that she's not only the Chief Minister of the state, she's also the Home Minister. This means she has full responsibility for internal security. She should create an environment where girls feel safe and can move freely, day or night. I would also like to request her again: please don't justify the rape. Work towards getting justice for that girl."
Meanwhile, National Commission for Women (NCW) member Archana Majumdar visited Durgapur to review the ongoing investigation into the case, following directions from NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma to take suo motu cognisance.
Majumdar met with the victim's family, students, and local authorities, including the Superintendent of Police (SP) and the Officer-in-Charge (OC).
"I had a conversation with my chairperson. She told me to take immediate Suo Moto cognisance of the case, reach the place, and meet the victim. I talked with the authorities... I had a talk with the students and parents of the victim. Then I spoke with the police, the SP, and the OC... We will put our report on the next working day," she said.
She further informed that the police had identified five suspects and arrested three. The police are preparing to file a chargesheet at the earliest. Medical samples have been sent to the State Forensic Laboratory, and Majumdar has recommended forwarding them to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL).
Majumdar expressed concerns over delays in justice for women in West Bengal and noted that the victim's friend and the arrested suspects belong to the same community.
"I had a talk with SP and the officer in charge of local PS... They said that they have identified five of them and arrested three. They will submit the chargesheet at the earliest. The medical sample collection is also done and sent to the State Forensic Lab. I have recommended sending it to CFSL... In West Bengal, we are unfortunate that girls are not getting justice in time... Her friend, with whom she left for dinner, is from a special community and the respondents who were arrested all belong to the same community. So that question lies, of course," she said.
Three persons arrested for allegedly raping a medical student in West Bengal's Durgapur were remanded to 10 days' police custody by a local court here on Sunday.
A second-year student of a private medical college was allegedly gangraped in Durgapur on Friday night. The survivor is from Jaleswar, Odisha.
The gangrape has sparked massive outrage, with the Bharatiya Janata Party accusing the Mamata Banerjee government of failing to protect women, while the ruling TMC slammed the BJP for allegedly politicising the incident.