Kolkata, March 26: Central Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has expressed strong support for Ratna Debnath, the mother of a victim, who has been nominated as a candidate by the BJP from Panihati. In a post on the social media platform X, Pradhan stated that Debnath’s candidacy is not just a nomination but a powerful assertion that the daughters of West Bengal will no longer be silenced.
He emphasized that the grief of a mother has transformed into an unwavering pursuit of justice, turning her voice into a movement for justice, respect, and women’s safety across the state. Pradhan criticized the repeated failures of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in ensuring women’s safety, claiming that the public’s trust has been eroded under their governance. He noted that countless voices have gone unheard, serving as a reminder of a system that has failed its daughters.
“This is not just an election; it is a moral reckoning,” Pradhan asserted. He highlighted that the courage of a mother is now directly challenging a broken system, transforming into a collective demand for justice, accountability, and lasting change for every daughter in Bengal.
In response, TMC leader Kunal Ghosh released a video questioning the BJP’s move to nominate the victim’s mother. He acknowledged the respect and sympathy for her situation but stated that she has lost her own dignity in the process. Ghosh condemned the crime against the victim and pointed out that the Kolkata police acted swiftly, arresting the accused within 24 hours. He mentioned that the victim’s parents had called for a CBI investigation, which was conducted, and the findings were upheld by the trial court, High Court, and Supreme Court.
Ghosh further claimed that the CBI operates under the BJP, raising concerns about the integrity of the investigation now that Debnath has become a BJP candidate.