At a time when the entire state is in agitation over the alleged gang rape of a medical student in Durgapur, West Bengal BJP workers on Tuesday (October 14) distributed red chilli powder among women. The initiative titled “Operation Lal Mirch” (Operation Red Chilli) is aimed at encouraging women to practice self-defence amid worsening law and order situation in the Trinamool Congress-ruled state.

Pepper spray and packets of red chilli powder were distributed to women pedestrians in Salt Lake near Kolkata on Tuesday. The BJP Youth Wing members, led by District BJP Secretary Molly Pal, also held a protest with posters in their hands.

The BJP campaign, ‘Operation Lal Mirch’ (Operation Red Chilli), started from near a metro station in Salt Lake, where women workers of BJP distributed the packets to women commuters, encouraging them to practice self-defence.

A woman BJP worker said, “We are distributing these packets to mothers and sisters so that they can ensure their own safety. The message is simple — we have to protect ourselves, and must use red chilli powder and pepper sprays if necessary.”

The protesters said that the CM’s reported remarks asking women not to venture out late at night was an admission of the State Government’s failure to ensure their safety.

What did Mamata Banerjee say about women stepping out at night?

Speaking to media persons on Saturday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, “Especially girl children at night time… they should not be allowed to come outside. They have to protect themselves also.”

The CM, while terming the incident “shocking” and asserting that her government has zero-tolerance for such crimes, had said that women boarders, especially those from outside the State, must adhere to hostel rules and not venture out late at night as the police would not be able to stand guard outside every home, while also calling for the institutions to ensure safety of its students inside and around the campus.

Her statement that drew widespread criticism for appearing to blame a survivor of a recent sexual assault in Durgapur. Following a major backlash, she later accused the media of distorting her comments.

The incident brought back memories of Banerjee’s past controversies, including her dismissal of the 2012 Park Street rape case as “fabricated”. After the 2024 rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata, the state had also issued guidelines advising against night duty for women, a move that was later retracted.

The alleged gang-rape victim is a 23-year-old MBBS student at a private medical college in Durgapur, West Bengal. The student, who hails from Odisha, had gone out of the college with a male friend on Friday night when she was allegedly gang-raped by unidentified men near the college campus.

Opposition criticises CM Mamata Banerjee’s remarks

Critics immediately condemned the comments as victim-blaming and a way to shift responsibility away from ensuring law and order, while Opposition leaders from the BJP and CPI(M) condemned Mamata Banerjee’s remarks, stating they reflected the government’s failure to ensure women’s safety.

The opposition camps have always raised various allegations about the safety of women in the state. Questions are repeatedly raised about how safe women are especially after the rape-murder of a junior doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital which shook the entire nation in August last year.

Now, after the Durgapur incident, the opposition has further incited those allegations. In order to ensure the safety of women on the streets, they have started ‘Operation Lal Mirch’, which was welcomed by pedestrians.

District BJP Secretary Molly Pal said, “What is happening in a state with a female Chief Minister? So, will we, the girls, not go out at night to work? So, for the sake of safety, we are giving this spray to the women who are out on the streets. So that they can protect themselves from any attack.”

Long or Short, get news the way you like. No ads. No redirections. Download Newspin and Stay Alert, The CSR Journal Mobile app, for fast, crisp, clean updates!

App Store –  https://apps.apple.com/in/app/newspin/id6746449540 

Google Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inventifweb.newspin&pcampaignid=web_share