The ruling Trinamool Congress on Sunday lashed out at the Opposition parties — the CPI(M)-led Left Front and the Congress – and the BJP for attempting to demean the State Government over the handling of the death and gang-rape of a 16-year-old.
According to Mukul Roy, General Secretary, All-India Trinamool Congress, planned efforts were being made to belittle Bengal.
“It is an attempt by the CPI (M), the Congress and the BJP to propagate a disinformation campaign against the State and malign the image of the Government. They want to create unrest,” he told reporters during a press conference. Concerted campaigns will be taken-up across the State to counter these attempts to malign the Government, Roy added.
The ruling Trinamool has faced an all-round flak – from both political parties and civil society – over the handling of a rape and subsequent death case, including allegations of police high-handedness.
The 16-year-old victim, hailing from Bihar but residing in Madhyamgram, some 30 km north of the city, was violated twice, and then hounded by some of her tormentors.
In her dying declaration to the police, the victim alleged of being set ablaze by some of the tormentors’ accomplice. She succumbed to her burn injuries on December 31.
All six persons named by her have already been arrested by the police. Allegations of police coercing the victim’s family have also surfaced. This led to protests across the city.
Assuring that such crimes against women will be dealt with an iron hand Roy said that the State Government was “with” the victim’s family.
He said the State Government is ready to offer all support to the girl’s family.
“All the persons named in the FIR have been arrested and criminals will be treated as criminals. Law will take its own course and the Trinamool Congress will not interfere in the issue. These are unfortunate incidents from the point of humanity”, the Trinamool General Secretary said.
Pointing out to similar incidents - of crimes against women – during the previous Left Front regime in the State, Roy alleged that attempts had then been made to downplay them.
Meanwhile, Biman Bose, Left Front Chairman, has rubbished the allegations.
“It was the State Government who was more than willing to brush aside the issue,” he claimed.
The victim’s family will head to Delhi to meet the President, Pranab Mukherjee, demanding a CBI probe into the matter.
abhishek.l@thehindu.co.in