Wed Jul 02 06:26:14 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
West Bengal Minister Manas Ranjan Bhunia sparked controversy after seemingly downplaying the Kasba gang rape incident as a “small incident” during a speech unrelated to the case. Opposition parties, particularly the BJP, strongly criticized his remarks, accusing him of normalizing sexual assault. Bhunia later clarified that his statement was not made in the context of the rape case and that he was referring to other incidents. The Trinamool Congress defended Bhunia, claiming his words were taken out of context. The BJP also criticized other TMC leaders for victim-blaming remarks. A law student was allegedly sexually assaulted inside a college in south Kolkata. The Kolkata Police has arrested three persons, two students and alumnus of the college for gang rape. The police have also arrested a security guard of the institute.
**News Article:**
**West Bengal Minister Denies Downplaying Gang Rape Amid Political Firestorm**
**Kolkata, July 2, 2025** – West Bengal Minister Manas Ranjan Bhunia is facing intense scrutiny after remarks he made perceived as minimizing a recent gang rape incident in Kasba, Kolkata. The comments, made during an event on Tuesday, drew sharp criticism from opposition parties who accused him of insensitivity and normalizing sexual assault.
“Even if a small incident happens in Bengal, it creates a stir,” Bhunia stated on July 1, 2025, reportedly in reference to a delay in apprehending a terrorist in Pahalgam. Critics quickly interpreted his words as trivializing the brutal sexual assault of a law student within a Kolkata college.
Following the backlash, Bhunia issued a clarification, stating his remarks were unrelated to the Kasba case. “I have never spoken about small incidents in the Kasba context. I have spoken about incidents in the health sector,” the Minister said.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) leadership has rallied to Bhunia’s defense, accusing the opposition BJP of misrepresenting his statements for political gain. “An excerpt from Manas Bhunia‘s speech has been maliciously taken out of context, misquoted, and circulated to mislead viewers about the Kasba incident,” the TMC posted on social media platform X.
However, the BJP remains unconvinced. They highlighted previous controversial statements by other TMC leaders, Madan Mitra and Kalyan Banerjee, suggesting a pattern of victim-blaming within the party. “This is the culture of TMC,” the West Bengal BJP stated, further alleging that women are unsafe in West Bengal under TMC rule.
Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury deemed Bhunia’s remarks “unfortunate.”
Meanwhile, authorities have arrested four individuals, including three students and an alumnus, in connection with the Kasba gang rape case. The police have also arrested a security guard of the institute. The Trinamool Congress has distanced itself from the remarks made by Kalyan Banerjee and Madan Mitra. The party has issued a show cause to Madan Mitra who has apologised for his remarks.
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