Bhubaneshwar (Odisha) [India], October 13 (ANI): Sovana Mohanty, Chairperson of the Odisha State Commission for Women has criticised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her “girls should not be allowed to go out at night” remarks ahead of the commission’s visit to Durgapur on Monday to meet the family of the medical student who was allegedly gangraped.
Mohanty said that Banerjee does not feel the pain of the survivor and urged her to ensure safety for women in West Bengal.
“Let her speak. She does not feel the pain. We will hold counselling with the medical student. It is incorrect to say ‘Women should not go out at night.’ You should assure women (of safety),” Shovana Mohanty told ANI.
Mamata Banerjee made a shocking statement on Sunday, advising colleges not to allow girls to go outside at night after the alleged gangrape in Durgapur.
“I’m shocked to see the incident, but private medical colleges also should take care of their students, and especially girls. The girls should not be allowed to go outside (college) at night. They have to protect themselves also. There is a forest area. Police are searching all the people,” Mamata Banerjee said.
A second-year student of a private medical college was allegedly gangraped in Durgapur. The survivor hails from Odisha.
As a three-member team of Odisha State Commission for Women left for Durgapur, the chairperson said that they will submit a report to the Odisha government after inquiring about West Bengal’s medical treatment and the ongoing probe in the case.
She said, “We will check on her health and meet her parents. We will submit our recommendations to the State government after inquiring about West Bengal’s medical treatment, her mental health and whether a proper investigation is being conducted. It is a 3-member team. We will also inquire about fast-tracking the case and regarding another accused who has not been arrested yet.”
“Odisha CM talked to the girl’s father and the administration,” the Odisha Women Commission chairperson added.
Senior Field Officer and Consultant for Odisha State Commission for Women, Bijiyani Singh, said that the three-member team may also meet police officers investigating the case and will try to ensure justice for the medical student.
“We will inquire about her health and the ongoing investigation. We will ensure that she gets proper medical treatment. We may also meet West Bengal Police officers. We will try to ensure that she gets justice, and no one is above the law,” Singh said.
Earlier on Sunday, National Commission for Women (NCW) member Archana Majumdar strongly criticised CM Banerjee’s statement, calling it “absurd” and urged the Chief Minister to focus on strengthening law and order.
Majumdar emphasised that women are excelling in various fields, including hospitals, IT, and sports, and should not be confined to their homes.
“How can we say that in the evening, that is 12 hours a day, a girl should stay locked in a room. Women are working in hospitals, the IT sector and everywhere equally to men. Today’s Indian girls are winning gold medals in weightlifting at the Olympics. They are going to space and we say that girls should stay inside the house after 9 or 8 pm… They have the power, capacity and knowledge to work…. It is the responsibility of the chief minister to stand beside women and to make laws to secure women… This is absurd, I cannot support her statement that girls should stay at home… This is not correct,” she said. (ANI)
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