‘Woman Beaten Up For Spoiling Society; Muslim Caste Laws’: WB MLA’s Remarks On ‘Street Justice’ Put TMC In Spot

The TMC MLA has allegedly justified the public flogging. (X)

The statement of Trinamool Congress’s (TMC) Chopra Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Hamidul Rahman, in the wake of the public beating up of a man and woman in a kangaroo court, has embarrassed the party.

In the video that surfaced on social media, a man is seen repeatedly hitting a woman with sticks in front of a crowd in open. She screams in pain as the crowd continues to watch in silence. The man then starts to beat the man lying next to the woman. At one point, the man grabs the woman by her hair and kicks her. Amid the outrage, the police filed a suo motu case. The main accused, Tajemul, also known as JCB, has been arrested and produced in court.

Soon, a video, allegedly of Rahman, questioning the character of the woman and referring to ‘Muslim caste laws’ in Chopra, while speaking to the media, surfaced. Rahman has insisted that statement has been taken out of context. News18 has not independently verified the video. However, the statement has been widely criticised by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Left and others.

RAHMAN ON THE ACTION, WOMAN

Justifying the act, Rahman on Sunday told the media: “The woman has not complained but you guys (media persons) are still raking it up continuously…The woman was doing unsocial work in the absence of her husband. A meeting was held by the villagers over her activities and a collective decision was made…We are all accepting that the villagers have done wrong. The woman has also done wrong. She had deserted her husband and children and turned out to be a loose character.”

“Yes. They have done wrong to a certain extent. We accept it. We are looking into the matter. The woman or her husband has not complained in the matter. She was not forced against her will… The woman was spoiling the society and hence the villagers took action. What they have done is a bit too much and we are disappointed. We are now taking steps such that these incidents are not repeated again,” he added.

Whether JCB is a member of TMC, Rahman remarked, “Why JCB alone? We got a lead of more than 1 lakh votes in Chopra. Hence, everyone there is our supporter. There is no harm.”

‘NOT MUSLIM RASHTRA, SAID MUSLIM CASTE LAWS’

While the BJP has alleged Rahman referred to Chopra as ‘Muslim Rashtra’, the MLA on Monday refuted it, saying he only spoke about “Muslim caste laws”

In the video, there is a statement: “…there are certain rules of conduct and punishment.”

TMC’s REACTION

The TMC initially stated they condemned the act by the local strongman and demanded strong action by administration.

TMC’s Kunal Ghosh posted on X: “I strongly condemn the Chopra incident. That person must be punished in a tough way. Thanks to Police that they have arrested him. Police is doing their job. No political person should defend this kind of acts. The silent spectators also responsible and must be booked.”

His statement that “no political person should defend it” clearly showed that the TMC disassociated itself from Rahman’s comment.

THE ATTACK

Speaker Biman Banerjee stated that this should not have happened. The BJP is up in arms and their MLAs protested outside the assembly.

Agnimitra Paul told News18: “Has this become a Muslim State? Are their laws are now being enforced? We want a statement from TMC chief Mamata Banerjee.”

BJP party president Jagat Prakash Nadda too posted on X: “A horrific video has come to light from West Bengal, reminding of the brutalities that exist only in theocracies. To make matters worse, the TMC cadre and MLAs are justifying the act. Be it Sandeshkhali, Uttar Dinajpur or many other places, Didi’s West Bengal is UNSAFE for women.”

With all such attacks by the BJP, Left and others, will the TMC take any action? It remains to be seen.