Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee Sunday made a personal attack on fellow TMC MP Mahua Moitra after she accused him and MLA Madan Mitra of “misogyny” over their remarks about the Kolkata law college rape case. Meanwhile, the TMC sent a showcause notice to Mitra, seeking a reply within three days.

Referring to Moitra’s recent marriage with former Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP Pinaki Misra, Banerjee said, “She is saying I am anti-women. What is she? She has broken up a family of 40 years and married a 65-year-old guy. The women of the country will decide.”

“She has returned to India after a honeymoon of one and a half months abroad and has started provoking. I am not a misogynist. I talk a lot in favour of women. In fact, Mahua Maitra is so anti-women that in the Krishnanagar parliamentary constituency, she doesn’t let any other women grow. There is one lady hater and that is Mahua Maitra,” he added.

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“She became an MLA when the TMC was already strong, and she is fully leveraging women’s issues. I don’t need to hear from someone who breaks up a 40-year marriage to marry a 65-year-old man,” said Banerjee, who had a public spat in the Lok Sabha with Moitra in April.

Three people reportedly affiliated with the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad, the TMC’s student wing, have been arrested in connection with the alleged rape in a Kolkata law college on June 25. After the incident came to light, the TMC held a press conference, vowing to ensure “exemplary punishment” for the culprits.

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However, the TMC’s stance was quickly challenged by comments made by Banerjee and Mitra. Banerjee stirred controversy by stating, “If a classmate rapes a classmate, who will provide security?” He clarified that he wanted to say the impossibility of police ensuring safety inside colleges.

Mitra, the Kamarhati MLA, further inflamed the situation with victim-blaming remarks. On Saturday, he told mediapersons, “If that girl had not gone there, this incident would not have happened. If she had told someone when she went, if she had taken her two girlfriends, if she had taken her parents, then this would not have happened. The accused took advantage of the situation.”

In a post on X, the TMC stated, “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. Our stance remains resolute; we have zero tolerance for crimes against women and demand the strictest possible punishment for all those involved in this heinous crime.”

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Moitra publicly criticised Banerjee and Mitra, indirectly labelling them “misogynists”. Sharing the TMC’s “zero tolerance” post on social media, Moitra wrote, “Misogyny in India cuts across party lines. What differentiates @AITCofficial is that we condemn these disgusting comments no matter who makes them.”

Misogyny in India cuts across party lines. What differentiates @AITCofficial is that we condemn these disgusting comments no matter who makes them. https://t.co/2AQ59fQK4w — Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) June 28, 2025

While responding to Moitra, Banerjee also questioned the party’s statement on “zero tolerance”. “The party is talking about zero tolerance; my question is that, is it before the incident or after the incident? This incident is so bad that I am in no possible way able to accept it.”

As Mitra stood by his comments while speaking to a news channel on Sunday, TMC West Bengal chief Subrata Bakshi sent a letter of protest to Mitra, demanding a reply within three days. The letter stated, “Your unwanted, unnecessary and insensitive comments in this regard have hurt the image of our party. At the same time, your comments are against the party’s strict stance. You are ordered to show cause within the next three days for this behaviour that violates party discipline.”