Kolkata: West Bengal is reeling under intense political and social turmoil following the alleged gang rape of a 24-year-old law student at South Calcutta Law College on June 25, 2025. The horrific incident, coupled with the earlier RG Kar Medical College rape-murder case, has ignited widespread outrage, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leading aggressive protests against the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) government, accusing it of failing to ensure women’s safety.
The BJP, led by state president Sukanta Majumdar, has staged rallies across Kolkata, Siliguri, and other parts of the state, condemning the TMC for what they call a “collapse of law and order.” Majumdar, briefly detained during a protest march, slammed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, stating, “No daughter is safe in Bengal as long as Mamata remains CM.” A four-member BJP fact-finding team, including former Union Ministers Meenakshi Lekhi and Satpal Singh, arrived in Kolkata on June 30 to investigate but was denied access to the college and the chief secretary. The team plans to submit a report to BJP national president J.P. Nadda, alleging a pattern of crimes against women in the state.
The TMC has countered, accusing the BJP of politicizing the tragedy. Minister Shashi Panja defended the state’s handling of the case, highlighting that three accused, including a TMC student leader, and a security guard have been arrested, with a five-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed to probe the incident. TMC leaders, including Kunal Ghosh, called Kolkata the “safest state” and urged the BJP to address crimes in their governed states.Public anger continues to swell, with students and activists joining protests. The Calcutta High Court has admitted PILs demanding an independent probe, as Bengal remains sharply divided, with political blame games overshadowing calls for justice.
