'Police Can't Be Everywhere': Kalyan Banerjee's Remark On Kolkata Gangrape Sparks Outrage

Last Updated:June 27, 2025, 20:59 IST

Banerjee stated that only a few men commit such crimes and questioned what could be done if a friend raped another friend

TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee in the Lok Sabha. (PTI file photo)

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kalyan Banerjee on Friday sparked massive political backlash after making controversial remarks about the alleged gangrape of a law student at South Calcutta Law College in Kolkata.

Speaking to the media on the incident, Banerjee stated that only a few men commit such crimes and questioned what could be done if a friend raped another friend.

“I am not an advocate into the incident that occurred at the Law College but the accused should be arrested. A few men commit this type of crime…But what can be done if a friend rapes his friend," he said.

The TMC MP pointed out that this was an incident involving students at a government college and questioned who would protect the victim if the police were not always present.

“Will the Police be there in schools? This was done by students to another student. Who will protect her (victim)? This (South Calcutta Law College) is a government college. Will the Police always be there?," he asked.

He further said that no law or police could prevent such crimes unless there was a change in society’s mindset. Banerjee added," College authorities are not part of the government machinery."

Banerjee’s comments come in the wake of an alleged gang-rape of a first-year law student in South Kolkata by an alumnus and two senior students of the college. All three accused were arrested and produced before a court earlier today, where they were remanded to police custody for four days.

BJP hits back

Meanwhile, the BJP West Bengal unit strongly criticised the TMC leader’s remarks. In a post on X, the party accused Banerjee of showing sympathy towards the accused.

“TMC MP comes out in support of rapists! In Kasba, a college student has been gang-raped by a TMCP leader and his gang. But TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee calls women’s safety concerns a mere ‘political agenda,'" the BJP posted.

Referring to Banerjee’s comments on the RG Kar Medical College case, the BJP said, “In the RG Kar rape case, as Bengal rose in protest through “Raat Jago," Kalyan mocks the movement and shamelessly claims the govt has no role if a rape happens inside a college. So the police can hold umbrellas for TMC leaders and Mamata Banerjee, but not protect women?"

“This disgraceful attitude is why women in Bengal feel abandoned, unsafe, and unheard," the party added.

‘Crossed all limits of shamelessness’

BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya also slammed Banerjee, saying he had crossed “all limits of shamelessness."

“He trivialized the crime by saying it was committed by “classmates." So rape by classmates is acceptable now?," the BJP leader asked on X.

“Is the role of West Bengal Police now limited to guarding Mamata Banerjee’s residence and holding umbrellas over TMC leaders, while Bengal’s daughters cry for justice?," Malviya asked. He further added that under Mamata Banerjee, Bengal has descended into lawlessness, and leaders like Kalyan Banerjee prove that the TMC doesn’t care.

News politics 'Police Can't Be Everywhere': Kalyan Banerjee's Remark On Kolkata Gangrape Sparks Outrage