Is it too much to ask the Mamata government to take responsibility and do the right thing?
Rape transcends politics and ideology. It represents an assault not only on an individual but on the very fabric of society, taking away dignity, agency, and humanity. One would think that the world in the 21st century should have moved beyond such barbarity, but the horrifying events in Kolkata underscore a failure that is both systemic and deeply rooted in selective outrage.
India is a civilization—a feminist civilization, where the Feminine is celebrated and respected. The 21st century should be an era where this condemnation is unequivocal, where justice is swift, and where the sanctity of human dignity is upheld without question. Yet, the current discourse surrounding the Kolkata case reveals a troubling trend of politicization and selective activism that is disappointing and disgraceful.
SHAMEFUL SILENCE
The silence from the anti-India cabal on this issue is deafening and shameful, no matter how you view it. These groups, both within and outside India, have built their legitimacy on a so-called issue of societal concerns, claiming to speak out against injustice, while brandishing their vain moral high ground. Yet, this heinous crime seems unworthy of their attention. Justice is not about vanity or virtue signaling; it is above personalities and personal beliefs.
Regardless of who leads, rape is criminal, and any attempt to politicize, trivialize, or silence the discourse around it is equally criminal. The rise of women in leadership positions was celebrated as one of the most significant political developments of the 20th century. In the 21st century, the expectations of women leaders have been vast, but ensuring the safety and security of women was a basic one. However, what has happened in Kolkata exposes a harsh truth: the presence of women in leadership roles does not necessarily translate to a better or safer environment for women.
If the situation was not already grim, what has unfolded since is enough to make anyone’s stomach churn. Why was the identity of the victim revealed and paraded by the authorities in Kolkata? The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) under Section 72 explicitly mandates that the identity of rape victims should be safeguarded to preserve their dignity and privacy.
Yet, in a shocking display of negligence, Sandip Ghosh, the principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, was the one to reveal it. Despite the uproar and his subsequent resignation following demands from junior doctors, Ghosh was swiftly reappointed as the principal of Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital within hours. Sandip Ghosh was quick to show his culpability, how was his statement not taken?
This blatant disregard for legal and ethical norms is not just an affront to the victim and their family but a question of faith in the government and justice system. It raises serious questions about the accountability of those in power within West Bengal. As such, disclosing identity is not merely an administrative lapse but an insult to the principles of justice and humanity.
HYPOCRISY OF OUTRAGES
For years, women’s safety in India has repeatedly entered public discourse. Yet, the issue persists, marred by selective hypocrisy. This is no longer just about women’s rights but has become a blatant political agenda, where condemnation is reserved for certain occasions. The current tragedy is no exception. Months ago, the travesty in Sandeshkhali highlighted a similar issue—hateful, brutal crimes against women and the systemic shielding of offenders.
Whether it’s the Nirbhaya case in Delhi or the rape and murder of a veterinary doctor in Hyderabad in 2019, the hypocrisy is glaringly evident. The TMC is known for its vocal opposition to nearly everything in India and globally. For instance, Javed Khan, West Bengal’s Minister of Disaster Management & Civil Defence, last November called for a boycott of Israeli and American products over the Israel-Palestine conflict. However, when it comes to addressing issues within their own state, the standards shift remarkably.
This sorry state of affairs is such that the victim’s identity and the crime’s location have become the primary criteria for response. This same twisted logic applies when “Gaza lives matter,” but Hindus attacked in Bangladesh are discounted.
Similarly, the Indian Army is branded as a rapist in Kashmir, but when Hindu women were raped and brutally murdered in Kashmir, silence sets in. The so-called international organizations that “specialize” in human rights are equally complicit in this selective outrage. There are no reports or timelines from Amnesty International about crimes against Hindus in Bangladesh, but the plight of Rohingyas in India is given top priority. Why? Because it’s not about women’s rights—it’s about political and ideological agendas so inviolable that justice, fairness, and even common sense are utterly disregarded.
ASKING FOR TOO MUCH?
Is it too much to ask the Mamata government to take responsibility and do the right thing? Misusing political and administrative machinery to shield the accused is a dangerous precedent that no government should tolerate. This systemic issue, where the accused are protected and victims are blamed, casts a dark shadow over society. Worse, it emboldens those who view such a system as a free pass for their vile behaviour.
Asking for governance that is responsive and sensitive to the needs of women is not an unreasonable demand—it’s a fundamental expectation that should be met without question. This is a moment when every party and leader should marshal their resources and stand united against such heinous crimes.
The TMC government, which often touts its commitment to political ideals like democracy and justice, must now translate those ideals into action. It is their several MPs who are always screaming, are surprisingly silent. Is it that the victim is the tip of iceberg of a greater rot in West Bengal, where there is no law and order? There is public outrage all over India. The political will to act swiftly is totally missing. It seems there is an attempt to protect the rapists. It is a gang rape, so why haven’t the police who know, arrested the others? There have been attempts to destroy the evidence. Are big fish involved?
Such unity is essential to delegitimize rape as an instrument of violence. Implementing capital punishment for rape through expedited trials sends a clear message: this behaviour is intolerable, and no one will walk away from this. Deterrence against rape is not just fair; it is necessary. It’s time to rise above political entanglements, awaken the moral conscience, and expel the inhumane from our society because rape is not politics, period.
This is the greatest slap on Bengal, the land of Goddess Durga where gang rapes are committed with impunity—this is the lowest any civilized society can reach. It is a shame for those who permit these horrendous crimes to occur and then try to cover it up.
Prof Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit is the Vice Chancellor of JNU.