West Bengal BJP chief faces flak over ‘sex workers’ remark

West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president and Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar has landed into a controversy for a remark directed at sex workers in Kolkata’s Sonagachi area.

The Trinamool Congress on Saturday (June 21, 2025) criticised Mr. Majumdar’s remarks and demanded an “unconditional apology” from the BJP leader. During an altercation with the police on Friday (June 20, 2025), Mr. Majumdar compared Bengal’s law and order situation with “sex workers.”

Several leaders of the ruling Trinamool Congress spoke against Mr. Majumdar and said that not only the BJP leader insulted sex workers but all the women in the State.

“Sex workers are among the most marginalised and exploited women in our society. They battle stigma, survive abuse, and yet show unimaginable courage just to feed themselves and their children. And what did @BJP4IndiaState President @DrSukantaBJP do? He dragged them through the mud, using their lives and livelihoods as a slur to attack the people of Bengal. Shame on you, BJP. And shame on you, Sukanta Majumdar. You owe every sex worker, every woman, and every resident of Bengal an UNCONDITIONAL APOLOGY,” the TMC posted on X.

Senior Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh said that the BJP leader was referring to sex workers of Sonagachi as an “expletive”. West Bengal Minister Sashi Panja said that though Sukanta Majumdar claims to be a teacher, but his remarks are “very disgusting, very disparaging and very disgraceful”.

“He has said that the law and order situation or the law in Bengal can be equated to Songachi sex workers. This is so humiliating to Sonagachi sex workers and we stand by them.” Dr Panja, who represents the constituency where Sonagachi is located.

The West Bengal ruling party said using one of the “most vulnerable groups in our society as a punchline for political mudslinging is inexcusable” and added that those “who spew such filth have no moral right to occupy any Constitutional office”.

The remark by the BJP president comes at a time when the BJP leadership is demanding action against Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mondal, who used vile language against the mother and wife of the officer-in-charge of Bolpur Police station.

An FIR has been filed against Mr. Mondal and the National Commission for Women has sought an action taken report from the police for the TMC leader’s remarks. While the police are of the opinion that there is no necessity to arrest the TMC leader, the State ruling has let off Anubrata Mondal without any punishment after he tendered a public apology.