- yesterday
A law student in Kolkata was allegedly gang-raped inside a college union room, sparking a political debate. The incident has led to accusations of political support for the accused, with the BJP targeting the TMC government. The police have arrested three persons, including the main accused. The case has reignited discussions on women's safety in Bengal and the need for stricter laws and accountability in educational institutions.
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NewsTranscript
00:00Good evening and welcome to The Point. I'm Pooja Shali.
00:03This evening, I have to discuss a very important issue.
00:07Barely 10 months since the RGKAR horror case of rape and murder,
00:12there's been another gang rape allegation that has come in
00:14from a young student of a law college in Bengal.
00:17What's happening? What is the TMC saying about it?
00:20And importantly, how is the BJP building this?
00:23With regard to how? A political showdown as well.
00:26We'll be tracking that and more. First, the headlines.
00:30A student gang raped at the Kolkata Law College inside the premises.
00:37The victim says in her complaint she was brutalized
00:40because she rejected marriage proposal of one of the three accused.
00:44Bharatiya Janata Party claims there's a Trinamun link to the accused.
00:47All three accused, meanwhile, identified, taken into custody.
00:55A big showdown has erupted.
00:57With RSS General Secretary's big statement,
01:00top RSS Neta triggers the Samvidan debate.
01:03Asks, should socialist and secular be dropped now?
01:06Congress hits back, says RSS and BJP are anti-constitution.
01:15Meanwhile, suspense continues over NDA TVK team up.
01:18Hominist amateur refuses to clarify on speculation if Vijay could join them.
01:22says there is still time left for Tamil Nadu elections.
01:29Karnatka Congress swings into damage control mode
01:32after one of the ministers sensationally hinting at a cabinet rejig on the cut.
01:36Chief Minister Sidramaya, Home Minister Parmeshwar,
01:39rushed to play down, says ignore what Rajanna has said.
01:42There's a relief that's come in for former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh,
01:50Jagan Mohan Reddy,
01:51in the case where he was atop a vehicle during a rally
01:54while a man was crushed
01:56right under the wheels of the car
01:58in which Jagan Mohan Reddy was.
02:01The High Court has granted interim relief
02:03and the court has observed,
02:05accidents happened.
02:06It happened even at the Kumbh Mela.
02:13External Affairs Minister Sajar Shankar hits out
02:15at the Congress over the emergency era,
02:16says former PM Indira Gandhi
02:18never expressed regret for emergency,
02:21recounts Congress's emergency excess.
02:33Top news coming in with regard to the Samvidan debate.
02:38Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi
02:39has taken to social media site X and said,
02:42I quote him here,
02:43The mask of RSS has come off again.
02:47The constitution irks them
02:48because it speaks of equality, secularism and justice.
02:52RSS BJP does not want the constitution,
02:55says Rahul Gandhi.
02:56They want only the Manu Smriti.
02:59They aim to strip the marginalized
03:01and the poor of their rights
03:02and enslave them again.
03:05Snatching a powerful weapon like the constitution
03:07from them is their real agenda,
03:10is what Rahul Gandhi is alleging.
03:12He goes on to add,
03:13and I want to quote what Rahul Gandhi has said,
03:15RSS should stop dreaming this dream.
03:18We will never let them succeed.
03:20Every patriotic Indian
03:21will defend the constitution
03:22until their last breath.
03:24This is in reference to RSS General Secretary,
03:27Hussabalai saying that
03:28secular and socialist,
03:31secularism and socialism
03:32has to go away from the preamble
03:34that's mentioned,
03:35that was added as an amendment
03:37during the emergency era.
03:39Mosby Singh joins me for the latest on that.
03:41Mosby, so Rahul Gandhi has finally spoken up.
03:43Tell us more about the Congress strategy here
03:45as the RSS is reiterating their demand.
03:48the RSS and the BGP for its double speak,
03:57saying that we will not allow them
03:59to undermine the constitution.
04:01and clearly, you know,
04:16those two ideas,
04:19ideas or perhaps those words
04:21of socialists and secular
04:22have been under debate earlier as well
04:25before the 2024 look for by elections
04:27and with the recent remarks,
04:29it's yet again stirred the Hornet's test.
04:32Alright, Mosby, we'll be tracking more on that.
04:34Clearly a political showdown.
04:36That's it.
04:36So let's begin with the top story
04:42on to the point.
04:44Rape horror
04:44and the allegations that have come in
04:46from the complainant.
04:48Barely a year since the RG car rape and murder case,
04:51this incident took place shockingly
04:53inside a college premises.
04:54Three people,
04:55including a former student turned staffer,
04:57two current students have been taken in custody,
05:00but a political showdown has erupted.
05:02What happened in Kolkata this time?
05:04Let's take a look first at this report.
05:12Even as the scars of the RG car medical college
05:15rape murder case still haunt the nation,
05:19another horror stuns West Bengal.
05:22This time an alleged gang rape
05:24inside a state-run law college in South Kolkata.
05:28The three accused,
05:30including a college staffer
05:32and two current students,
05:33are arrested.
05:34The court has granted police
05:42their custody till July 1st.
05:44According to the F.I.R. filed,
05:58based on a complaint by the survivor,
06:03the main accused proposed marriage to her.
06:17The survivor, a student at the college refused,
06:21saying she had a boyfriend.
06:22She was allegedly locked and threatened and then raped her.
06:28She was injured while resisting the assault.
06:32And the accused threatened and blackmailed the survivor after the incident.
06:36The survivor, demanding justice, describes a harrowing ordeal.
06:40She had a panic attack after the sexual assault and pleaded for help.
06:45But the main gate was locked.
06:48The accused allegedly recorded a video threatened to leak it and hurt her family.
06:57She was even attacked with hockey sticks.
07:01One of the accused,
07:02One of the accused, Manojit Mishra, is a TMC student wing leader
07:06and is a contractuous staff at the college.
07:12TMC highlighting that police have arrested all accused and appealed,
07:16that the incident should not be politicized.
07:20You said that the murder of the victim...
07:25Don't do anything at all...
07:27You keep being in touch and wrong...
07:29得 例えば...
07:30We are practically all over the country...
07:33We need to tell this to say...
07:36We need to leave and to do this.
07:39And this is what we can say...
07:42We can say goodbye.
07:44Goodbye...
07:45As protest for justice gathers steam, TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee has shockingly shifted the owners from police to the victim.
08:15The BGP slammed Mahmouda Banerjee's government, calling Bengal a nightmare for women.
08:45The BGP is a very important part of the BGP, and the BGP is a very important part of the BGP.
09:15But across India, can we deny that we have failed the betis of India?
09:21With reporter inputs from Rajesh Saha and Anupam Mishra, Bureau Report, India Today.
09:35Joining me now live for the Bengal government version with regard to what unfolded in the law college.
09:41Shashi Panja, she's the Minister, Women and Child Development, also Social Welfare.
09:45Ma'am, thank you and appreciate you joining us to give out the perspective of what the government has to say.
09:50Now, within 10 months of RGKR horror, this time inside a university, a student has claimed that she's been gang-raped
09:57and that they have been part of the administration in college as well.
10:01How does the government possibly defend itself here?
10:05Because this to me shows there is no fear of law in Mamata Banerjee's government.
10:11On the contrary, the government is not defending itself.
10:16It's taking action.
10:17And the action was swift and decisive.
10:20And within 12 hours of receiving the complaint, or when the Kolkata police came across this crime,
10:27those three guys have been napped and they are now in custody.
10:30Within 12 hours.
10:31We are just saying that we are so serious about this horrific incident.
10:37And we are not taking it at all casually and not even, least of all, politically.
10:42So leave aside the political statements which come out from the parties in opposition to the Tribunal Congress.
10:48What has the government done?
10:49The least the government, any government in this country, in India, should do is to be with the victim,
10:56to condemn it and to take action.
10:59And that is what Kolkata police has done by nabbing those.
11:04I mean, those three guys were identified.
11:06The ones that she had named, the statement, her statement, which has been recorded with the utmost confidentiality.
11:15And the least that any government can do, which we are doing, is to reassure that these people will not go scot-free.
11:22And they have been napped and there will be investigation and there will be punished.
11:26For which, you know, I wish to just again reiterate the fact that Aparajita bill is a bill against such crimes on women.
11:37Which this West Bengal Legislative Assembly, the ruling parties, Trinamul Congress legislators had passed in the assembly.
11:45Which advised death. Death for it.
11:48Act.
11:49Yeah, absolutely death.
11:50It has to be that severe.
11:53You need to have the fear of the law.
11:56So, you know,
11:56this bill should have become an act by now.
11:58It's almost 10 months.
11:59But why has it not been?
12:01Those people who are in opposition to us should answer.
12:05Because that is lying in the highest echelons.
12:08And what is it?
12:09That's a question for the centre.
12:10So, if you're really serious.
12:12Okay, okay.
12:13Ma'am, but I'll also want to bring in here.
12:15This goes also beyond the rape case here.
12:18Which is that the BJP Bengal leaders are sharing images of the prime accused with the TMC leadership.
12:25What does the TMC then say on this?
12:28Because this shows a certain political support that gave these accused the audacity to get away, or at least they believe they would get away with the sexual assault.
12:36Oh, no.
12:41The least of all that the Trinimal Congress students wing is, you know, giving them immunity against such crimes is the least that this is not done here.
12:53It is not done here, and there's no compromise with this.
12:56The point also, again, I'm not defending.
12:59I'm placing it on record that the Trinimal Congress students wing, when the last committee was formed in 2022, does not have this person's name.
13:08Many of the so-called supporters or followers, or anyway, which may be called supporters, friends, always wanting to have a photograph with the leader, a popular leader.
13:34Well, if these photographs are correct, then those photographs of the Honourable Prime Minister with the rapist, or the Honourable former Minister Smriti Irani with the BHU rapist, well, then all those are also true.
13:49So, if that is true, then you are trying to say this is true.
13:52And if you're saying, no, that is false, then isn't this false?
13:55Ma'am, here there's also a confirmation that has come in from the TMC Chhatra Parishad that they did give entry to one of these individuals into their functioning group.
14:07And if that's true, because this is not from me, this is from the Chhatra Parishad union that has said they have apologised, saying that they did not realise he would do this crime,
14:17but accepted that in the initial days of the functioning of the Chhatra Parishad, one of these accused was a part of their team.
14:23At this juncture, do you think that the TMC would want to put out a clarification, an apology and ensure that there is no political support given to the accused at all in the days to come?
14:37Absolutely, there is no political support.
14:38I mean, there's no kind of any support to any individual belonging to any organisation.
14:43That should be our outlook for any political party.
14:46Now, if political parties who are now not looking or even empathising with the victim are more focused, and I was just hearing the statements, even we've been busy all day,
14:58I heard these outrageous statements of the leader of the opposition here in Bengal or even the West Bengal,
15:04Samhapati in Bengal.
15:06I mean, irresponsible statements.
15:07Like what?
15:08Most of it, look at, he's saying that this is the rule of the day.
15:13Is that the way you speak?
15:15Now then, we have to bring in NCRB data.
15:18We then have to bring in instances in BJP ruled states or the glaring examples in Manipur or even their elected representatives, MLAs and ministers,
15:29who are having criminal cases against them, criminal cases against women.
15:35About 17 such ministers who are in the union cabinet.
15:38What do you say?
15:39So this is not your rape and my rape.
15:41I really don't want to get into that argument.
15:44This is assault on a girl, on a victim.
15:47And we have to assure justice to that.
15:51And of course, any such, it should come down to zero.
15:55That's what we are saying.
15:56And regarding Srinamur Congress, Chhatra Parishan, whatever they have said,
15:59we have seen that after 2022, he was not even in that last committee.
16:04And maybe in very early student years, he must have been in a very basic post, which, you know, everybody is a thousand and one people who will be functioning as secretary.
16:15When you say, ma'am, and I appreciate that you are assuring all justice to the victim and the family.
16:21When you say opposition should not do vulture politics or not make it into a showdown.
16:26But when, ma'am, MP of the party, Kalyan Banerjee, says women should be careful who they go out with, associate with.
16:33Police cannot be everywhere.
16:35Isn't this saying that women in Bengal, you're on your own?
16:39Because then if an MP makes that statement, do you think it reflects poorly on the government of the state?
16:45I am really not aware of what Kalyan Banerjee has said.
16:49And moreover, I am also not aware what did he mean?
16:52Are you interpreting it correctly?
16:55I don't think he would have meant this.
16:57And because here is a party which not only talks about women empowerment, it believes in it and it practically, you know, executes the policy of women empowerment.
17:09So it is most unlikely that he would have said this thing.
17:12And we would have, we always do stand by women's security, for which Kolkata was also one of those places on record.
17:21Again, I would say there should not be even one case.
17:23But Kolkata was declared the safest city in India, one of the safest metropolis, three consecutive years.
17:32We are not really, you know, relying on such laurels, past laurels, etc.
17:38We have been working on this.
17:40And that's why you have CCTVs or we have women police stations or we have women police officers in every police station.
17:50That's how we look at it.
17:51And that's why we are trying to reduce it and, you know, down to zero, which obviously you cannot guess who has what in mind.
17:59My final question to you, Mishashi Panja, would be then that there's been Sandesh Khali, Nadia, Arjikar, now this one.
18:09The political showdown is continuing.
18:12The opposition has been charging.
18:13But I want to quote and become a devil's advocate here.
18:16Despite a woman chief minister in our country, has that woman CM failed to protect the women in Bengal, even in a city like Kolkata?
18:27Yes.
18:29Ma'am, this is a statement which you should not say, or you or me for that matter.
18:35Why is it only a woman chief minister has to be, the chief ministers, if they are men, they will not look into security issues of women.
18:48I mean, this is if you are a leader or you are the head of the state, irrespective of the gender, everybody should be looking into security issues of women.
18:56This is one. And secondly, Mahmouda Banerjee, you know, what is the political will of the government?
19:03It speaks from its policies. It speaks from its dictates.
19:06So what we have always spoken about women empowerment, be it social, economic, or for that matter, even political empowerment.
19:14I think women in Bengal are far ahead of the other states, extremely progressive.
19:20And also, yes, as we said, such any kind of crime should be reduced to absolutely net zero.
19:28Questions from the political parties is most unfortunate.
19:32I mean, they should not be questioning when you have so many questions to answer in all of these BJP's.
19:38That showed up. We'll continue. We expect that. But as a government, of course, the responsibility will be, especially on protecting all women, especially young women who are going to college, cannot have this incident happen in a college.
19:54Appreciate you joining us. Misha Shee Panja, you are the Minister of the Government, to put your perspective as well.
19:59Thank you very much for now. And we'll see how the justice is ensured to this young law student in Kolkata, the prime accused images on your screen.
20:08Let's discuss and understand what exactly happened. Remember, this is not about just one woman or one case.
20:14This reflects broadly about how rape crimes in the country and in Bengal continue despite assurances.
20:22Joining me from the Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson, Shotrupa, political analyst Tawseev Khan is also joining me.
20:29Srimoy Piya Kundu, author and who has a direct Bengal connect. Also, Nilanjan Chakrabarti, women's rights activist.
20:36I want to, at this juncture, also begin about what precisely is happening. I want to understand from you, Tawseev, and I asked this question to the minister just a short while ago.
20:47For me, as much as the rape case is, this isn't just about the rape case. This is as much about political support.
20:54And because there is possibly these young men who think they have a political support, for example, in this case, allegations from the BJP of association with the TMC,
21:03they think they can sexually assault even if a woman says no to marriage and they know they'll get away.
21:10What do you say to that?
21:11So, these are all political, you know, allegations simply trying to play politics over an issue which is like a menace across the country.
21:23Those who are saying that this is because of the political support, will they then agree that all the rape cases accused where there are BJP leaders in BJP rule state?
21:32Therefore, in Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath is promoting all the BJP men to go and rape Uttar Pradesh women because there are a rape happening there in all other BJP rule state.
21:43Would you say the same thing?
21:44No.
21:45This is an issue which does not require any political party to try and reap any political dividend.
21:51In Calcutta, unfortunately, this incident took place.
21:56Kolkata police acted swiftly.
21:58Within 24 hours, arrests were made.
22:00Three persons, including the main accused, is arrested in police demand now.
22:05Police has taken action.
22:07On the other side, you see, last year, and just because people want to fight it politically, I want to raise a very valid point.
22:15Last year, this Bengal government passed an assembly, passed a bill in the assembly of Aparajita Women and Child Bill 2024.
22:26Why is BJP creating obstacle?
22:29Why it has not received the presidential assent yet?
22:33It's been pending.
22:34Okay, let's take the question to BJP then.
22:37Because BJP has been sharing a lot of things.
22:39Just a second, in the new law, in the new criminal law which BJP brought, BNSS, rape cases, in certain rape cases, there was, in the old law, there was death penalty.
22:50They reduced it to only life imprisonment.
22:53We want it back.
22:54Under this law, Mamata Banerjee government has said that for a certain death case, death penalty could be avoided.
22:58But is this really about the bill, Tawasif?
23:00Or is this about the incident at hand?
23:02I want to take that question to BJP.
23:04Shatrupa, you tell me, why is the targeting of the Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, of the TMCE, a ruling party, says all the accused have been arrested.
23:11That should this be treated as a gruesome, horrific crime, which it obviously is.
23:16But why do a political showdown on that?
23:19Pooja, good evening, although I really don't have the heart to say good evening right now.
23:24In fact, there has been such a lot of traffic disruption protesting this.
23:28I got late, even trying to reach home.
23:30However, greetings of Tawasif.
23:34Okay.
23:35Okay.
23:36Let her finish.
23:36Let her finish.
23:37Go ahead, Shatrupa.
23:39The point here is why we're blaming the CM.
23:42Because the Chief Minister of West Bengal has a habit of, you know, justifying this whole thing.
23:48She will say, oh, a 14-year-old girl got raped.
23:50Find out whether she was having an affair.
23:52Find out whether she was, you know, pregnant.
23:54A rape incident happens in Park Street.
23:59It was the first incident after she came to power.
24:01You will remember not only the Chief Minister, her women ministers have gone on record saying,
24:07oh, there was just a misnegotiation between a customer and a client.
24:11This is the way women ministers, including the woman chief minister, talks about women after they are raped.
24:18Now, here, I don't want to politicize this today out of all days because it's a very holy day.
24:25However, every time somebody or the other gets raped in West Bengal, why is it that it's a specific pattern that these people,
24:34the rapists, are somehow, somewhere, either under the umbrella of Srinamul Congress or under the inspiration,
24:41the ONU-PRERONA, which they gather from the loose comments that the Chief Minister makes.
24:46You know, it's all very well trying to get an Aparajita bill, which Sossif was talking about.
24:51But I am sure you know by now, Pooja, that the leader of our position during when the bill was being raised in Vidhan Sabha,
25:00the BJP had raised 13 specific points, which were not only not included, they were not even recorded.
25:09So our point is definitely, I mean, in spirit, we are with Aparajita bill,
25:14but getting those points about the police not trying to get in the documents or, you know, mishandling the proof,
25:22not doing the investigation properly, those things have been completely ignored by the government.
25:27Now, coming back again to the incident today, the three people who have been very swiftly arrested by police,
25:36you will see, Pooja, I am requesting your camera to be in Kolkata to follow this event.
25:41It will not even take seven days to get them released after maybe a slap on the wrist.
25:46We'll be tracking that. I hope that doesn't happen. Yes.
25:50It always happens.
25:51It always happens.
25:52There have been allegations like it happened in RGKAR against the police as well.
25:57But I want to bring in now Srimoy Pio Kundu in the discussion.
26:01Srimoy, this is Kolkata, your city too. So this is, I believe, as personal.
26:05You tell me, what does it speak about a city like Kolkata this time, taking pride in ethos once otherwise,
26:11but where a sleeping doctor, a law student are being raped, gang raped, murdered, audacity of political support?
26:17Does it make you angry, sad? What is the emotion that you feel?
26:20Actually, the emotion is just complete shame, shock, and just, you know, a kind of now feeling that is there any light?
26:31Will there ever be any light at the end of the road?
26:34As Shattarupa mentioned, today is a very auspicious day.
26:37It's Ratho Yatra.
26:38And usually, you know, in families which celebrate Durga Pujo, the wood with which the frame of the goddess is made, you know, the puja of that happens today.
26:48What are we celebrating?
26:50Why are we continuously saying, woman chief minister, woman chief minister?
26:54You know, today, when I got up into the car after an event to come and attend this debate,
26:59my driver is telling me,
27:00Didi, you have to pay for a rate card.
27:03You know, the chief minister will just go and, you know, offer some money to the family of the rape victim or survivor or, you know, the deceased.
27:12And, you know, the court case will drag on and on.
27:15They'll bring out 100 loopholes.
27:16BJP will blame TMC.
27:19TMC will shout at BJP.
27:21And ultimately, it is only the family of this girl.
27:24And since she has survived, he said, I have a daughter, Didi.
27:28I shudder to think, you know, if she ever comes from the village to Kolkata to study,
27:32what is the environment?
27:34Tomorrow, she goes into her workplace.
27:36We don't know.
27:37She might just be, you know, you know, given something to drink or, you know, given some kind of drug to make her unconscious.
27:44They will take her into the room and rape her just because she had said no to this guy.
27:48Apparently, the rapist, the one who has been arrested, who was also a TMC leader.
27:53And also, you know, Pooja, I want to say, who are we hiring or who are we appointing as leaders?
27:59It is time to introspect.
28:02There have to be some, you know, qualifications.
28:05This is like a job.
28:07It is not just a netagiri or a dadagiri.
28:10And I want to, Srimoy, that's an important point you're making.
28:12I want to go to Nilanjana also.
28:14But I have, as part of my profession, I've read the complete complaint of the victim and it's horrifying.
28:22It's so disturbing.
28:23We are talking about a young student.
28:24And, again, with the point that you're making, this man, the prime accused, appears to clearly know that he enjoys a political clout.
28:34And he proposes marriage, she denies, she rejects.
28:37And then he goes on to rape her, to show it to her, put it in place and two others join in.
28:41Nilanjana, when you think of this incident, in our college days, streets may be unsafe.
28:47College premises was the safest place.
28:50To be raped in a union room, as the allegations are, it's so disturbing.
28:54I wonder, and no girl should be facing this least of all in a place like Bengal,
29:00which harps on the fact that the women are safe and empowered in the city.
29:07Yes, I completely agree with you.
29:10It is, firstly, it's extremely unfortunate, very disturbing and very distressing
29:15to, you know, hear of this kind of an incident which has taken place, I mean, you know, just today.
29:22So, having said that, you know, I would like to make a couple of points.
29:26First thing is, we should stop this political slugfest that is going on, you know, this is happening in your state
29:37and that's happening in your state and this government, that government.
29:40This problem is not about any government per se.
29:45We need to actually act on certain issues which we are not being able to address.
29:51Number one is that when in educational institutions, where is the accountability, where is the responsibility?
29:59That takes it from the lower rung to the topmost rung.
30:07Is there any transparency?
30:09Is the system porous enough to understand who's being hired, taken into consideration for, you know,
30:16whether it's a student wing leadership or the members?
30:20Is there any, is there any demarcation?
30:24Is there, are there any parameters which are taken into account?
30:28No, anybody and everybody can become a member and they can use and slash misuse their position as leaders
30:37and they can do whatever they want.
30:39That's one.
30:40So, that needs to be addressed.
30:41Second thing is, since we are living in very, very troubled times, unfortunately, I have to say that I have a daughter.
30:47I am very much aware of it, you know, as parents, as citizens of the country, I would say, we need to educate our children.
30:58I am talking about our children, especially the male child.
31:02Definitely wrong parenting, wrong and, you know, any amount of this male bias.
31:09What, who gives them this authority to actually, you know, take, do these kind of things.
31:15And this guy, this fellow, this culprit, he was accompanied by two more people.
31:21So, the mindset is common.
31:23So, where, where do they come from?
31:24Where does it come from?
31:25And other age group from 19 to 30 to, these are young men, youth.
31:32So, they're very young.
31:33All right.
31:33So, this is definitely a very, very important issue which needs to be addressed.
31:37So, you believe that this is as much about society and begins from home.
31:41Quickly, quickly finish your point.
31:42Another point I would like to make here is the college, university, wherever the students are, I think it's high time the professors and principals and the heads of departments sit and have a chat.
31:56You know, when you have a brief thing for a new person.
31:58She begged the guard, the security guard, that she wanted to leave, get medical help.
32:03She was denied.
32:04It did not open the gate.
32:05Was he as involved?
32:06Exactly.
32:06What's happening in our colleges?
32:08Tauseef, the question here is, why I bring this in?
32:11Clearly, a lack of responsibility, accountability.
32:16And when you have a briefing session for a new session.
32:17Or political fear.
32:18Why I say this?
32:19Because the charges that came in during Sandesh Khali, Tauseef, then there was a Nadia district case.
32:25Then Arjikar, of course, we know.
32:27And within 10 months, this incident happens in a law college inside a premises.
32:31That adds to the seriousness of the case.
32:33But all of these cases under the Mahmata Banerjee government tenure.
32:36How can possibly someone defend this?
32:39Or like you're comparing it to a state like Uttar Pradesh.
32:42It is as concerning to me.
32:43Because we have to eventually talk about a CM, a woman CM, who proclaimed.
32:48And claimed that the things are going to change under her regime.
32:51It doesn't seem to be happening.
32:52What would you say to that?
32:54First of all, it is wrong to say that anybody is trying to defend this.
32:58I'm not defending anybody.
33:00Neither am I comparing it.
33:02But when BJP tries to take some kind of political benefit out of it.
33:06I have to show them the mirror.
33:08That look what is happening.
33:09Can you blame only Mahmata Banerjee?
33:11Or is this a phenomenon across the country?
33:14Show me one state where you do not find rape is happening.
33:19It is happening everywhere.
33:20What needs to be changed?
33:21And I'm saying this again.
33:23One, that one of the panelists was saying that we need to educate our male children.
33:27As well as we need to tell our female children that you need to speak up.
33:31Be proactive.
33:32And maybe report such incidents beforehand to prevent it.
33:35Secondly, we need to have a strict and strict law.
33:39A very, very strict law.
33:40Why did the...
33:41Tossi, the complainant also said, I was afraid to go to the police because of power.
33:47I had to tell my father about it.
33:50Don't you think that reflects that the people in Kolkata, in Bengal, believe that police is not going to help them.
33:57Especially when it's a TMC union leader or associated with the TMC union.
34:01That's a misnomer.
34:03No one is...
34:04No political party is protecting anybody.
34:07Had there been any protection, this person would not have been in jail.
34:12He was arrested swiftly.
34:14And he is now under police study and under the order of the court.
34:19So no one is providing any protection.
34:21Okay.
34:21That's a false allegation.
34:22Secondly, I am saying why is...
34:24No, no, you can't say it's a false allegation.
34:26It's a complainant view.
34:27Tossi, so we'll go by what a gang victim has to say.
34:31I want death penalty.
34:32Okay, you want death penalty.
34:33You want...
34:34Coating the Prajita bill.
34:36But Shantrupal, let's take the question which the TMC has raised throughout the day.
34:40In fact, today that...
34:41What about Uttar Pradesh?
34:42What about the BJP ruled states?
34:44Why are you all blaming TMC leaders and the Bengal CM as well?
34:48What would you say to that at this juncture when the TMC claiming...
34:51Let's also talk about other states.
34:53First of all, Pooja, it is...
34:56I say this with great sadness that every single state, everywhere, in fact, all over the world,
35:04you have horror stories which are inflicted on women and equal amount of horror stories inflicted on men.
35:10So I don't want to get into this because I'm representing my party.
35:15I don't want to get into a social debate right now because you have two other very good social activists here.
35:20I want to do it. I want to say something completely political.
35:24If you're talking about other states, there are efforts made by the top leadership, by the law, by the police, by that,
35:32to stop it, to prevent it, to make sure that it doesn't go out of hand.
35:36Here in West Bengal, what do you see?
35:39You see repeatedly the chief minister and her women ministers, as well as people like, unfortunately,
35:45like Tossif and other spokespersons who will go on to an India tour, who will go on a nationwide tour and compare so many rapes in other states, so therefore so many rapes here.
35:57Let me tell you, Pooja, you, I mean, unfortunately, media can only record the number, in some number of rape cases.
36:05Three days, three rape cases.
36:08During, Srimoy was talking about today being Kathamo Poojo, which is the framework on which Madhurga will be prepared.
36:16That, the basic framework is worship today.
36:20That's the beginning of Durga Pooja for us, for many of us.
36:23So, therefore, here, last year, from Mahalaya to Nobomi, nine days, Navaratri, according to you people, every single day somebody was raped.
36:34And little girls, mind you.
36:35And for Bengal, there's definitely a lot of symbolism when it comes to the divinity, feminine power, than a woman see.
36:42He goes and justifies this.
36:45That is our problem.
36:47You cannot justify.
36:48So, once the top leadership is justified, you have other rapists who are convinced that they can go and...
36:55Who get the audacity and confidence.
36:56Okay.
36:57Final points.
36:58Final points to our activists as well.
37:01Srimoy, what is the solution?
37:02I genuinely hate to do discussions when it comes to rape because I believe we'll do a very strong discussion this time.
37:10And the rape cases may come to a halt.
37:12Someone will bring in a law.
37:14Something will change.
37:14Nothing is changing, Srimoye.
37:16Inside a law college, a woman was gang raped.
37:21I don't think it's a gang rape case.
37:23I don't think the place is, you know, the thing.
37:33I mean, be it a law college, be it a medical college, be it a home, be it a bus, be it a school, be it, you know, a park.
37:43There are three things I'm going to quickly say.
37:45One is, there has to be more gender awareness.
37:48There has to be more sex education.
37:50There have to be CCTVs on campus in any public space which involves women.
37:54This includes street corners.
37:56This includes buses.
37:58This includes...
37:59Okay.
38:00Precious parks everywhere.
38:04In a country like India, you have to have surveillance systems that actually work.
38:09And they have to be monitored and, you know, their upkeep and maintenance has to be taken.
38:13Second thing, strictest punishment for rape.
38:16Strictest.
38:17No politician, no political party.
38:19We all have to unite this and come together as a human rights movement.
38:25Rape is not just a women's problem.
38:26It's not just a TMC versus BJP versus this and that, a UP versus Bengal problem.
38:32This is a human rights violation.
38:32Nilanjana, what do you believe needs to be done?
38:34You say we need to educate better with regard to our male children.
38:40Yes, Nilanjana.
38:42Is it law?
38:42Do you think law is the reason?
38:44Punishment needs to come swift and fast.
38:46And, you know, I would just put it this way that, you know, since the time of Nirbhaya,
38:51I remember covering Nirbhaya for India today.
38:53So from Nirbhaya to Park Street to this and, of course, many other cases, things have moved.
39:02But I'm sorry to say very, very slowly.
39:05But what really is a matter of concern is in corporates, in educational institutions,
39:12I think it's time that the educational institutions, especially in workplaces,
39:17they need to sit down, have a briefing and take this up very, very seriously.
39:22It's an ugly topic to discuss.
39:24It's an ugly topic to introduce when you have newcomers or a new batch coming in.
39:29But sorry to say, but this really needs to be taken up seriously.
39:32That the principal or the head of the department, HODs, whoever they are,
39:38they need to actually address, have a special session for this, these kind of crimes.
39:44A parent should live in the fear, a parent of a daughter should live in the fear that she could be assaulted or raped.
39:51And sadly, this has happened one too many times.
39:54Just see, a couple of days back on a bus, a journalist was molested by a 55-year-old man until she raised a hue and cry.
40:03So basically, it is not essentially...
40:06I would say, Nilanjana, more hue and cry on this collectively.
40:10But our politicians, our police, our establishment will have to ensure this is one issue that women, young girls should not have to live in fear of.
40:19And perhaps this time we will ensure not just swift arrest, but swift justice too.
40:23Think of the parents of the daughter this time, especially when she called her father to come and pick her up,
40:30because this is what had happened to her in the college.
40:33Thank you very much to all of you for your perspective and views.
40:36Political showdown continues.
40:37Ladies and gentlemen, this was a political twist only few saw coming.
40:41Maharashtra's once estranged cousins, Udav Thakre and Raj Thakre,
40:44are reuniting after two decades almost, but for a cause which is anti-Hindi imposition.
40:50And as these visuals were coming forth, their coming together marks a potential turning point in political narrative and scenario in Maharashtra politics.
40:57But is this a larger political reset?
41:00Let's take a look first at the report of what happened in the past 24 hours.
41:07What was once thought of as unthinkable may now be happening again.
41:13Once allies, then rivals, now set to reunite.
41:20Udav Thakre and Raj Thakre seated together, fighting for the Marathi Manus.
41:28Bala Sahib Thakre's long-cherished dream is finally coming true.
41:33For the first time in two decades, the Thakre cousins are set to join forces for a common cause.
41:40Opposing the Maharashtra government's decision to implement Hindi from class 1 to 5 under the National Education Policy's three-language formula.
41:53The Thakre's are calling it an imposition on regional identity and linguistic diversity.
41:58Today we have decided to have a protest against the imposition of Hindi.
42:05And for this very purpose, we requested all political parties and everyone, each and every Marathi Manus to participate in the protest.
42:15And we got a positive response from everyone.
42:18So this will be a historic protest on 5th July.
42:21And it will be a remembrance of 1960.
42:28The former Maharashtra chief minister, Uddav Thakre, has also slammed the government for imposing language emergency.
42:38Alleging that this move is an attempt to erase Marathi-ness.
42:42The duo, which earlier planned to hold separate rallies over the same issue,
43:09will now hold a joint protest march on July 5th.
43:14Their protest march will also be backed by Sharad Pawar's NCP faction.
43:19The BJP, on the other hand, claims that the Thakre's are using this protest to save their political identities.
43:26Can this unexpected alliance change the course of Maharashtra politics?
43:56Will the combined Thakre's star power be greater than the sum of their parts?
44:03And is this the first step towards truly realizing Bala Sahib's vision for his family?
44:09Bureau Report, India Today.
44:11Joining me now to discuss more on this, Sahil Joshi, our managing editor, heading to AASHTAG Mumbai Bureau.
44:19Also Rajdeep Sardusar, our consulting editor.
44:21Rajdeep, I want to ask you this.
44:23Do you think it's a matter of surprise that the brothers have come together,
44:27not on BJP, on Hindutva, but on anti-Hindi imposition, so to say?
44:32You know, Pooja, it is almost as if they are going back into the past to restore their relevance in the present.
44:40This was a party which started at one level as the Sons of the Soil movement,
44:44where Marathi linguistic chauvinism was a very important integral element.
44:49And if you want to live in Mumbai, you have to learn Marathi.
44:52That's how Bala Sahib Thakre, in a way, built his identity in the 1960s.
44:57And now, 50 years later, or 60 years later,
45:00at a time when the Thakre family finds itself on the political back foot,
45:05Uddav Thakre lost big in the Maharashtra elections in November.
45:09Raj Thakre has been seen to have been completely marginalized in politics.
45:13By coming together on this one issue,
45:15they are, in a way, trying to revive the original Shiv Sena plank.
45:20So, I find it extremely interesting that it's taken 60 years and a series of recent election defeats
45:27for the Shiv Sena almost to turn the clock back and go back to where it all started.
45:31Just one more point.
45:33The fact, though, is Mumbai's demographics have changed dramatically.
45:37Today, about 25 to 30 percent of Mumbaikers are those who come from North Indian states
45:44like UP and Bihar and made Mumbai their home.
45:46So, when the Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections, which are the crucial elections in September, October, come,
45:52there is that demographic which will also matter.
45:54How do you then combat that?
45:57By trying to consolidate the Marathi-speaking vote, the original base of the Shiv Sena.
46:02So, it's almost as if necessity has driven these two cousins, warring cousins, back together.
46:08But whether this will lead to a political alliance, we don't know.
46:12I think at the moment, they are just signaling to their voters that we are, if necessary, ready to come back
46:19if we have to defend Marathi interests.
46:22Are the brothers testing waters?
46:24Sahil, I take that question to you.
46:26What do you think happened on the ground that both of them decided to come together on this issue?
46:31And what does it look like in the days to come?
46:33Especially, is this an isolated event or a political alliance?
46:39Well, this is huge at this point of time in Maharashtra politics.
46:43Because, you know, there are certain things which you negate in politics.
46:47That this is never going to happen.
46:49And Maharashtra politics ever since 2019 have negated those negated things.
46:54That this is not going to happen.
46:56It has always happened like that.
46:57In 2019, nobody thought that Congress and the Shiv Sena will come together and form the government.
47:03In 2023, nobody thought that the BJP will take Ajit Pawar in its group and form the government together.
47:12So, you know, similarly, it was always perceived that two brothers who parted ways on the issue of
47:19who is going to lead the legacy of Shiv Sena Supremo Bala Sahib Thakre are finally coming together
47:25on the issue which is, you know, which they claim is not a political issue.
47:30But of course, as Rajdeep has pointed out, it is a political issue in a city like Mumbai
47:35where the Marathi issue has always been kept burning ever since formation of Shiv Sena.
47:41And it has been always a forefront of a political fight against those who oppose that particular issue.
47:47So, for that, it is definitely a big thing that two Thakre brothers are coming together
47:52on same stage and making a speech against the government.
47:57The government which was supported by MNS in 2020 for Lok Sabha elections.
48:02And now, Raj Thakre is taking a completely different stand altogether.
48:06But if you look at the whole demography of the Mumbai politics at this point of time,
48:12one can clearly see that it's not going to affect BJP March the way it will affect Eknath
48:17Shinde's party because Shinde's party is not able to take a clear stand on the issue where
48:25the two parties which are claiming to have a legacy of Bala Sahib Thakre are taking a very
48:29clear stand that they do not want to have this three-language policy in state of Maharashtra
48:37which has not been implemented in Tamil Nadu or any other state for that matter.
48:41So, because of that, Shinde's party is going to have a lot of issues at this point of time.
48:46Also, it will create a kind of atmosphere for those who want to switch over to Eknath Shinde's
48:52party, especially after Maharashtra assembly elections where Shinde's party performed much better
48:57than that of Shiv Sena UBT. So, even that is also going to have a kind of impact on Eknath Shinde's
49:03party. Now, as far as whether, you know, whether they will go beyond this, whether they will actually
49:08form a coalition to fight the BMC elections or not, that is yet to be seen. But what I can clearly see
49:14is that it's the beginning. You know, the thing which was never thought of that they are coming
49:18on one stage, on one issue, Uddhav Thakre decided to change the date of agitation which he had
49:25already announced that he will be agitating on the day, on the 7th of June and he is, you
49:30know, coordinating with Raj Thakre's party that let's come together on this issue and
49:34let's march together on 5th of June. It's a big deal. So, from here onwards, at least that
49:42ice breaking has happened in the relationship. So, now they will not only meet during, yes.
49:48In the days to come. Sahil, stay on with me. Rajdeep, do you think this will find a connect
49:54with the Marathi, so to say, Marathi people on the ground? Do you think this is an issue
50:00over Hindi that can unite them again? A lot has changed in Mumbai, in Maharashtra like
50:05you are also mentioning in the past few years. And also about Raj Thakre. He met Amit Shah
50:10barely about a few weeks ago. I believe in March. And then this happens.
50:13Look, nothing is permanent in politics. Certainly not in Maharashtra politics. As Sahil rightly
50:18said, you never know what happens tomorrow in Maharashtra politics. Even 24 hours is a
50:23very long time in Maharashtra politics. Raj Thakre has been known to be mercurial. You
50:28know, he can always switch sides in terms of his political alignments or who he tends to
50:32support at a particular moment. Look, I think clearly the BMC elections are an existential
50:40battle. A battle for life and death for all these three shiv senas in a way. Eknach
50:44Hinde, who is now the deputy chief minister. Uddav Thakre, whose party has controlled the
50:48BMC for 30 years. And Raj Thakre, who is keen to make some kind of a political comeback.
50:53If the two Thakres come together, it certainly gives the Marathi Manus or the Maharashtra
50:58person some kind of an political identity. But because the demographics have changed, the BJP
51:04now has a solid vote bank among Hindi speakers in Mumbai. So that vote bank could well turn
51:11against the Marathi Manus in a way. And the Marathi Manus itself has become very, has dispersed.
51:17He is not as united as he or she was 30, 40 years ago. Many of them send their children
51:23today to English speaking schools. I mean, both Raj Thakre and Uddav Thakre have sent their
51:28children to English speaking schools. So the nature of linguistic politics also changes.
51:32I am not sure language is as critical a issue today in Maharashtra as it was 60 years ago.
51:38Because it was not just about language. It was about job competition. The fear was a lot
51:43of the middle class clerical jobs at the time were being taken by so-called outsiders, especially
51:48South Indians. They were seen as the enemy figure. All of that has changed. Mumbai is a
51:52changed city. But when you are fighting for your political existence, you sometimes go back
51:57to what you think is your USP. And therefore that USP is the Thakre brand name. Bring them
52:03together. And the idea that we stand for the Marathi Manus. So I do believe that the Thakres
52:08have hit upon an issue which certainly for their core voters will have resonance. No doubt about that.
52:14If it's a cue from Tamil Nadu politics as well about identity, language, all that and more as an example.
52:19But Puja, I think, you know, South Tamil Nadu has retained that strong cultural identity. Over the years, Mumbai's identity in the land of Bollywood with so many Hindi speakers, most Maharashtrians know how to speak Hindi also reasonably well. I mean, Sahil Joshi is a good example of that. He does a program on Aastak.
52:40Sahil Joshi. So for me, I don't think that Marathi-Hindi divide is as sharp as we would think.
52:45Sahil, 30 seconds I have. But I want to ask you, what do you think the NCP, the Congress would have to say, Raj Thakre joining in the alliance if that happens?
52:54Well, Raj Thakre is not going to join the Mahavika Sagadi because when it comes to the local body elections, everything changes. You know, it's not necessary that there will be two blocks fighting against each other. That is NDA versus Mahavika Sagadi.
53:07It can be completely, everybody can go completely on their separate ways. Looking at that, I don't think that there is going to be an issue with respect to the NCP, Sharath Pawar or for that PADAC Congress.
53:18As far as they can see that Shinde or BJP can be kept under check by these two brothers coming together, I think they will be okay with it.
53:27They have very, they have nothing much to say about this because right now there are, they are not going to face any major election in coming, in few years of time.
53:36That is till 2029. So, so for the local body elections, the politics is going to be completely different altogether.
53:43And that is the beginning, that, you know, that, that thing will begin on 5th of June is what I can see at this point of time.
53:50But this is going to be clearly a side, Raj Thakre, Udav Thakre together and Bala Sahib Thakre's images in the background.
53:57Can that change the dynamics for Maharashtra politics?
54:00Thank you very much, Rajdeep Sardisai, Sahil Joshi, for your perspective and expertise on this issue.
54:05Watch out for what unfolds in Maharashtra among the foreign countries.
54:08That's all the time I have for, thank you very much for watching.
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