TMC MLA Swapan Debnath has courted controversy after stating that “women are going out to drink at night” in the name of protests and that parents should ask their daughters “where they are going at night”. A video of the minister’s speech went viral.
Debnath, who is also state minister for animal resources development, was speaking on the protests against the RG Kar rape and murder case at a public programme in Kalna of West Bengal’s Purba Bardhaman on Monday.
“Be it 11 pm or 2 am, women and girls are hitting the streets in protest,” he said, adding this was possible because of West Bengal’s “environment”, and that both CM Mamata Banerjee and the TMC at large “have demanded strict punishment for the culprit”.
“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,” said the MLA.
“Just yesterday night (Sunday), I got information that a girl and two boys were drinking. I went there. It was 2 am then. I went and saw they were drinking beer. Their parents were called and asked at 2 am, “Do you know which night protest your daughter went to?” Police picked them up later. If in an inebriated condition, something happened to the girl, we would have been held responsible. Parents should know where their girls are going at night,” said Debnath, adding: “I am not here to insult anyone.”
He also took a dig at protesters. “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,” he said.
Thousands of people, including women, have been taking to the streets of Kolkata and districts in protests at night after the R G Kar rape and murder. On numerous occasions, protesters gathered at night to participate under the banner “Reclaim the Night”, called by organisations, junior doctors, and other individuals and junior doctors.
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