"Taliban mentality": BJP's Agnimitra Paul slams West Bengal CM Banerjee's statement on Durgapur gangrape

Asansol (West Bengal) [India], October 12 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Agnimitra Paul on Sunday strongly condemned West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over her remarks following the alleged gangrape of a medical student in Durgapur, terming Banerjee's comments as exhibiting a "Taliban mentality."
BJP leader criticised the Chief Minister's statement advising that "girls should not be allowed to go outside of college at night," calling it shameful and regressive.
Speaking to reporters, Paul said, "We have a Taliban government in Afghanistan and we have Mamata Banerjee's government in West Bengal. Mamata Banerjee today is saying that this girl, the victim of the Durgapur incident, had gone out at 12 o'clock at night. Mamata Banerjee, please don't lie. The CCTV footage shows that she went out to fetch her food at 7.58 pm or 8 pm... So please do not try to put the blame on the girl and the institution. What do you think? After 12 am, women shouldn't go out? Doctors who are doing night duty in hospitals shouldn't go out? Nurses who give us service shouldn't go out? The IT sector shouldn't go out and do its duty. People in the service industry shouldn't go out. This kind of Taliban mentality is shameful."
Paul also accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government of "protecting" the perpetrators and cursing the victims. She further asserted that the people of West Bengal would deliver a strong message to the ruling party in the 2026 assembly elections.
She stated, "Actually, you have always been protecting the rapists and cursing the victims. Because these rapists are TMC cadres, and in the coming 2026 elections, you will use them for vote-rigging and booth-capturing, to create terror among the people of Bengal. The people of Bengal have also understood. We don't want your Lakshmir Bhandar. We want respect. On one hand, you will give us Lakshmir Bhandar of Rs 1000, and on the other hand, you will rape us, gang-rape us and not give us justice. This is not done. So in 2026, women of Bengal will take a poll and will teach you a lesson. They have already decided who to vote for..."
Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed shock over the incident and advised private medical colleges not to allow girls to go outside at night after the alleged gangrape of a medical student in Durgapur.
"I'm shocked to see the incident, but private medical colleges also should take care of their students, and especially girls. The girls should not be allowed to go outside (college) at night. They have to protect themselves also. There is a forest area. Police are searching all the people," Mamata Banerjee said.
Mamata Banerjee condemned the incident and assured that strong action would be taken against the perpetrators.
"Nobody will be excused. Whoever is guilty will be punished strictly. Three people have already been arrested. We will take stringent action... When it happens in other states, it is also condemnable," she said.
Meanwhile, three accused have been arrested in the alleged gangrape case of a medical student in West Bengal's Durgapur. They were presented before the court today.
Speaking to reporters, Asansol Durgapur Police Commissionerate DCP Abhishek Gupta said, "Three persons have been arrested so far. They have been forwarded to the Court today. Further investigation is ongoing, and everything is going according to the protocol. All investigation is taking place..."
According to the student's father, she stepped out with a classmate to get something to eat. However, two or three other men arrived and raped her. The classmate, he said then "abandoned her and fled."
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken suo motu cognisance of a distressing incident reported from West Bengal, where a young medical student from Odisha was allegedly subjected to gang-rape in Durgapur. (ANI)