Trinamool MLA apologises for remarks on Kolkata rape survivor after party rebuke

Senior Trinamool leader Madan Mitra has offered an unconditional apology to the party leadership for his controversial comments about the victim of an alleged gangrape at a law college here, particularly his remark questioning why the student had gone to the institution "alone".

The Kamarhati MLA submitted his reply to the party’s show-cause notice late on Monday, within the three-day deadline.

Mitra also provided an explanation of the context in which the remarks were made, party sources said.

His response was brief and structured in two parts, they said.

The first part includes a formal and unconditional apology for his statement, which triggered public outrage. The second part attempts to explain the circumstances and intentions behind his comment.

The Trinamool Congress is currently reviewing his response and will decide on any further action after considering its contents, the sources added.

The controversy erupted after a student at South Calcutta Law College in Kasba alleged that she was raped inside the college premises on June 25.

Subsequently, Mitra made remarks suggesting the incident could have been avoided if the woman had not gone to the campus alone. His comments were widely condemned as insensitive and victim-blaming.

"If the girl hadn’t gone there alone, this wouldn’t have happened. She should have taken friends, informed her parents, or notified party workers. The accused took advantage of the situation," Mitra had said.

He had also said that the woman knew the college was closed, and alleged that she went there believing she would be made the girls’ common room secretary.

The remarks sparked public outrage and criticism from across the political spectrum.

On Saturday night, the Trinamool Congress issued a statement distancing itself from Mitra’s comments, describing those as his "personal opinion" and clarifying that the party does not endorse such views.

Party state president Subrata Bakshi had on Sunday issued a show-cause notice to Mitra, accusing him of making "unsolicited, unnecessary and insensitive remarks" that had severely damaged the party’s public image and contradicted its official stance on the matter.

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