Did not refer to Kasba incident says West Bengal Minister after his ‘small incident’ remark creates outrage
The Hindu | 2 July 2025
West Bengal Minister and senior Trinamool Congress leader Manas Ranjan Bhunia on Tuesday (July 1, 2025) clarified that his “small incident “remark was not made in content of Kasba gang rape incident after political parties in the Opposition targeted him for the remark made earlier in the day.
“So many days have passed but the terrorist at Pahalgam has not been arrested. ‘Even if a small incident happens in Bengal, it creates a stir,” the Minister said at an event on Tuesday (July 1, 2025).
A few hours later after the political parties in the Opposition targeted Dr. Bhunia, who serves as Minister Department of Water Resources Investigation and Development and Irrigation and Waterways, for his remarks calling it “normalisation of sexual assault” he clarified that his remarks were not made in context of the incident of sexual assault at Kasba.
“I have never spoken about small incidents in the Kasba context. I have spoken about incidents in the health sector. I have spoken about how much good work Mamata Banerjee has done,” the Minister clarified.
The Trinamool Congress leadership, also came to the Minister’s defense and said an excerpt from Manas Bhunia‘s speech has been “maliciously taken out of context, misquoted, and circulated to mislead viewers about the Kasba incident”.
“Shri Manas Bhunia has issued a strong clarification, unequivocally condemning the Kasba incident and exposing BJP’s desperate, deceitful narrative. BJP should know that defamation has consequences. No matter how loud the lies, truth will prevail,” the Trinamool Congress posted on ‘X’.
The West Bengal BJP leadership took to social media and targeted Mr. Bhunia for the remarks. “State Minister Manas Bhunia, echoing Mamata Banerjee’s stance, claims that rape is a “small incident” and that people create unnecessary noise every time such a case occurs! This is the culture of TMC.” the West Bengal BJP posted on ‘ X’ .
A law student has alleged that she was 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.
The West Bengal BJP also referred to the remarks by other TMC leaders Madan Mitra and Kalyan Banerjee. While Mr. Mitra has said that the survivor must not have ventured alone Mr. Banerjee had said that how can police prevent “such incidents if a friend rapes a friend”.
“Sometimes they question the character of the rape survivor, and sometimes, like Madan Mitra or Kalyan Banerjee, they target the victim instead of standing by her, even when the rape is committed inside a State Government college campus by a TMC leader. As long as TMC remains in power, no woman in West Bengal will ever be safe,” the BJP said.
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.
Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury called the remarks by Dr. Bhunia as unfortunate. Mr. Chowdhury said that