West Bengal BJP holds rally over TMC leader’s ‘vile’ remarks on women

LoP in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari, with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporters, stages a protest rally against Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Anubrata Mondal after an audio conversation surfaced where he allegedly used derogatory remarks at a police officer’s wife, in Birbhum on June 9, 2025 | Photo Credit: ANI

The West Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a Nari Samman Yatra on Monday (June 9, 2025) to protest derogatory remarks made by Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mondal directed at the wife and mother of the Officer-in-Charge of Bolpur Police Station.

The Trinamool Congress let the Birbhum strongman off with an apology, but the police have registered an FIR. The BJP, to register their protest, organised a major procession in Bolpur, which was led by Suvendu Adhikari.

Speaking at a meeting in Bolpur, Mr. Adhikari said that the mother and wife who were insulted represent the honour of all women in the State.

“Anubarta (Mondal) used this language against the Officer-in-Charge, directing it at his wife and mother. Can someone utter such language? Had Yogi Adityanath been the Chief Minister he would have been in prison,” Mr. Adhikari said at the rally.

Anubrata Mondal appeared before the police on June 5, several days after an FIR was registered against him at Bolpur Police station. The FIR was in connection with an audio where Mr. Mondal is heard abusing and threatening the police officer using vile language not only against him but also towards his wife and mother.

Referring to the rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at Kolkata’s R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, the BJP leader claimed that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee could not understand the pain of another woman and offered ₹10 lakh to the parents of the victim, which they refused.

It is now 10 months since the gruesome rape and murder, and a crowd had gathered outside Tala Police Station in Kolkata, under whose jurisdiction the crime was reported on August 9, 2024.

OBC Yatra

Mr. Adhikari announced that after the Nari Samman Yatra, the BJP leadership in the State is planning to organise a OBC Adhikaar Yatra. On Sunday the BJP leader held a protest rally at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas.

Women leaders of Trinamool, including Minister Sashi Panja, and MP Kakuli Ghosh Dastidar, held a press conference in Kolkata and said that the BJP has no right to speak of honour and respect for women. “Women cannot take any more insults from the BJP. Yesterday, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, while speaking at Sandeshkhali, said that women should not sell their shankha-sindoor for ₹500–1,000 for the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme.”

Lakshmir Bhandar is a cash incentive scheme of the West Bengal government that was launched in February 2021, under which ₹1,200 per month is given to women in reserved categories, and ₹1,000 to women from the general category.

“Lakshmir Bhandar is not a handout. It is the lifeline of Bengal’s women. And as long as Smt. @MamataOfficial is at the helm, no force can snatch that away. Insulting Bengal’s women will cost you dearly,” the Trinamool Congress said in a statement on social media.”

Published - June 09, 2025 10:38 pm IST