PM Modi raises Kolkata rape cases: 'Even hospitals unsafe for women in West Bengal'

PM Modi accused Trinamool Congress of fostering lawlessness and loot in West Bengal.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday alleged that the Mamata Banerjee-led government cannot protect the lives of the people of West Bengal.

"You all have seen how, when a young doctor was subjected to atrocities here, the TMC government got involved in protecting the culprits. The country hadn’t even recovered from that incident when, in another college, a horrific crime was committed against another young woman. In that case too, the accused were found to have links with the TMC..." said PM Modi while addressing a rally at Durgapur.

PM Modi was referring to the 2024 RG Kar Medical rape and murder and the recent Kolkata law college gang-rape cases. “Atrocities against women in West Bengal give us pain, anger… The mistreatment of women by a party that preaches the values of Maa, Mati, and Manush deeply pains and angers me. It is disheartening to witness such actions occurring on the very land of Kadambini Ganguly, India's first female western-trained medical doctor,” said PM Modi.

The PM alleged that the Trinamool Congress has spared no effort in protecting the perpetrators. “Even hospitals are unsafe for women in Bengal,” he said.

On 9 August, 2024, a thirty-one year old postgraduate doctor at RG Kar Medical College Hospital, who was on a thirty six hour duty shift was murdered and allegedly raped inside the seminar room of the hospital. A 24-year-old student at the South Calcutta Law College was allegedly raped by two senior students and an alumnus of the institute in the guard's room on June 25.

After the alleged Kolkata law college rape, Trinamool leader Kalyan Banerjee's remarks  sparked massive outrage. He suggested women should be careful about who they associate with and fight back against attackers. "What can be done if a friend rapes his friend. Will the police be in schools? This was done by students to another student. Who will protect her (victim)?" Banerjee asked, adding, "Who does all this criminality and molestation? Some men do it. So, who should women fight against? Women should fight against these perverted men."

In response, the BJP condemned the remarks and questioned the security measures in educational institutions.

PM also accused the Trinamool Congress government of fostering lawlessness and loot in West Bengal. Hhe claimed people are turning to the BJP for hope. He also highlighted the lack of job opportunities. Modi promised economic transformation if the BJP wins. He questioned the state's investment environment citing violence and bias. "...In West Bengal, money is being demanded from businessmen, the people of the TMC threaten them...The 'Gunda Tax' of TMC obstructs investment in the state," he alleged.

PM Modi said in Bengal , everyone is saying 'TMC hatao, Bengal bachao".