West Bengal Minister for Women and Child Development, Shashi Panja, today said it was “very unfortunate” that a student of a private medical college was gang-raped, but accused the BJP of “politicising” the incident.
Panja said the police had received a complaint regarding the alleged gang rape case and a thorough investigation was underway.
She confirmed that the victim, a minor from Odisha, was in hospital where she was receiving proper medical care and counseling. “The girl is being looked after, and her statement will play a crucial role in the investigation,” Panja said.
The minister added that the victim’s parents had arrived from Odisha and expressed confidence in the Kolkata Police’s ongoing probe.
Panja criticised the BJP for “politicising” the sensitive issue. “Crimes against women should never be viewed through a political lens, but unfortunately, the BJP continues to do so,” she remarked.
“We don’t need to repeatedly state that Kolkata is the safest metropolis in India or that West Bengal is committed to women’s empowerment. The Chief Minister never compromises when it comes to ensuring justice for women,” Panja asserted.
Urging patience, she said, “We must wait for the police investigation to be completed before drawing any conclusions.”
Panja further said it was “unfortunate” that BJP leaders in Bengal were using the incident for political gain, while similar cases of harassment and self-immolation of women in BJP-ruled Odisha had gone largely unaddressed
