Calcutta:
West Bengal minister and senior Trinamool Congress leader Swapan Debnath’s remark about women drinking during the mega protest in the state has created a huge controversy. A video is doing the rounds on social media in which the minister says that during the “Reclaim the night” protest in his area of Purbasthali, a woman and two men were spotted drinking beer in a hotel.
“What if something sinister had happened to the woman? Our men had been on guard then. But what if they weren't there?” he is said to have said.
Urging parents to be more vigilant, he added: “Your daughter went out to protest and demand safety for other women. But watch what she does outside after midnight… Any untoward incident will bring the state to book. We are certainly responsible for the safety of women. But those who are out there also have a responsibility,” he added.
He also said that he has asked hotel owners in his area to stop selling alcohol to women after midnight.
However, the Trinamool has distanced itself from the statements made by the minister, who is in charge of the Animal Husbandry department.
“We cannot dictate the behaviour of any individual, man or woman. Whether she should drink or not or where she should go. We are not the moral police,” said Trinamool leader Kumal Ghosh, stressing that the party does not condone such remarks.
“But the underlying note of concern for the safety of a woman, which is evident in Swapan Debnath's remark, at the same time cannot be overlooked. Whether he should have expressed his views in such a manner in the first place is another matter,” he was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India news agency.
The ruling Trinamool Congress has come under immense pressure after the rape-murder of a young doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital on August 9, which sparked protests across the state and had a domino effect across the country. The state government has faced tough questions in the Supreme Court over the steps it has taken since then to beef up security in medical colleges.
The government's knee-jerk reaction — that women should not be made to work night shifts — also drew a severe rebuke from the court. “How can you say women cannot work at night? Why are you restricting women doctors? Your job is to provide security, you cannot say women cannot work at night. Pilots, the army etc. all work at night,” Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said.
Today, the Chief Secretary of the state issued an order to ensure safety of women in medical institutions. The note contained detailed instructions including ensuring adequate availability of ward rooms, toilets, CCTVs, deployment of police and security personnel including women, mobile police teams for night surveillance, central helpline and panic buttons and alarms.
The official also ordered an audit of security at all state-run medical facilities.
