The remarks by Trinamool Congress leaders on the gang rape of a law student at the city South Calcutta Law College and bickering between its own leaders has put the party in a tight spot.

Since June 27, when the Kolkata Police arrested three persons including a former student leader associated with the student wing of ruling party in connection with the crime, the Trinamool Congress has been busy dissociating with the prime accused Monojit Mondal. However, the remarks by senior party MP Kalyan Banerjee and MLA Madan Mitra have come as a bigger embarrassment to the party.

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While Mr. Banerjee had said, “If a friend rapes another friend, then how will the government authorities provide protection in such cases,” Mr. Mitra said that the survivor should not have ventured alone in the college. On Sunday (June 29, 2025), the party issued a show cause notice to Madan Mitra stating that his comments were uncalled for and insensitive.

The Trinamool State president Subrata Bakshi issued a show cause to Mr. Mitra, who has served as a former Minister in the West Bengal government, for breaking party rules and to reply within three days. “Your uncalled for and insensitive comments have affected our party’s image,” the notice by Mr. Bakshi said.

Earlier on Saturday, Trinamool Congress not only disassociated itself but also condemned the statements made by Kalyan Banerjee and Madan Mitra. “The remarks made by MP Kalyan Banerjee and MLA Madan Mitra concerning the heinous crime at South Calcutta Law College were made in their personal capacities. The party unequivocally disassociates itself from their statements and strongly condemns the same. These views do not reflect the position of the party in any manner whatsoever,” Trinamool has said in a social media post.

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Four time MP and party’s chief whip in Lok Sabha Kalyan Banerjee, however, remained unfazed after the criticism and on Saturday hit back at his own party saying that leaders who joined party after 2011 are responsible for such crimes.

In a social media post Mr. Banerjee had said that he completely disagrees with the post made by @AITCofficial on X. “Are they indirectly supporting the leaders who are shielding these criminals? Mere academic statements won’t bring any real change unless immediate action is taken against those leaders directly responsible. What’s even more unfortunate is that some of the leaders who emerged after 2011 are themselves under question in such crimes,” the Trinamool MP said. Mr. Banerjee added that he wishes to clearly distance himself from those who are encouraging or protecting these criminals.

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Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra took a dig at the leaders who had made insensitive remarks on the rape.

“Misogyny in India cuts across party lines. What differentiates@AITCofficial is that we condemn these disgusting comments no matter who makes them,” the Krishnanagar MP said on social media.

Kalyan Banerjee on Sunday launched a fresh attack on Mahua Moitra and said that she joined the party after it came to power in 2011 and is making most as an MP. “I am not the one who has hatred towards women,” Mr. Banerjee said launching personal attacks on his party colleague.