The Crossbill Team
Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Swapan Debnath has sparked controversy with his remarks about women participating in night protests demanding justice for the brutal rape and murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar, by suggesting that some are "going out to drink at night" under the guise of demonstrations.
A video of Debnath's speech, delivered during a public event in Kalna, Purba Bardhaman, West Bengal, has gone viral on social media, where the TMC leader is also heard advising parents to monitor their daughters' whereabouts after dark.
Referring to the protests over the RG Kar rape and murder case, Debnath remarked about women being on the streets late at night, stating that such actions are only possible because of West Bengal's current (safe) environment under the TMC government.
However, he said, “But I must also say: in my area, I have seen that at night, women buy alcohol. When I heard about it, I went to find out which hotel serves alcohol to women. I have told hotel owners that women cannot be served alcohol at night. This is also my duty. If women drink in hotels at night and something wrong happens — what then? Therefore we have to stand guard,” The Indian Express quoted him saying.
Debnath went on to share an incident from the previous night where he found a girl and two boys drinking beer at 2 am. He claimed that he informed their parents and questioned them, “Do you know which night protest your daughter went to?”
The MLA said, “Parents should know where their girls are going at night.”
Taking a jibe at some of the protestors, Debnath said, “I saw on television that someone who protested on the R G Kar issue one day went abroad on holiday the next. I have seen that people leading the protest are busy at the market (for Durga Puja). I have seen the prominent face of the protest go to buy the most expensive saree for his wife from the market. But then they are saying we have no heart for Puja festivities after the incident.”
The ongoing protests, under the banner "Reclaim the Night," have seen thousands of participants, including women, gathering across Kolkata and surrounding districts to demand justice for the victim.
Many of these protests have taken place at night and were organized by junior doctors, civil organizations, and individuals.
A video of Debnath's speech, delivered during a public event in Kalna, Purba Bardhaman, West Bengal, has gone viral on social media, where the TMC leader is also heard advising parents to monitor their daughters' whereabouts after dark.
Referring to the protests over the RG Kar rape and murder case, Debnath remarked about women being on the streets late at night, stating that such actions are only possible because of West Bengal's current (safe) environment under the TMC government.
However, he said, “But I must also say: in my area, I have seen that at night, women buy alcohol. When I heard about it, I went to find out which hotel serves alcohol to women. I have told hotel owners that women cannot be served alcohol at night. This is also my duty. If women drink in hotels at night and something wrong happens — what then? Therefore we have to stand guard,” The Indian Express quoted him saying.
Debnath went on to share an incident from the previous night where he found a girl and two boys drinking beer at 2 am. He claimed that he informed their parents and questioned them, “Do you know which night protest your daughter went to?”
The MLA said, “Parents should know where their girls are going at night.”
Taking a jibe at some of the protestors, Debnath said, “I saw on television that someone who protested on the R G Kar issue one day went abroad on holiday the next. I have seen that people leading the protest are busy at the market (for Durga Puja). I have seen the prominent face of the protest go to buy the most expensive saree for his wife from the market. But then they are saying we have no heart for Puja festivities after the incident.”
The ongoing protests, under the banner "Reclaim the Night," have seen thousands of participants, including women, gathering across Kolkata and surrounding districts to demand justice for the victim.
Many of these protests have taken place at night and were organized by junior doctors, civil organizations, and individuals.
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