‘Reclaim the Night’ movement: Bengal minister claims 'women drank liquor'
While Debnath insisted that the state govt is accountable for ensuring safety, he stressed that protecting women is a shared responsibility
Debnath claimed that during the ‘Reclaim the Night’ protest in Purbasthali, a woman was observed drinking beer with two men at a hotel. | File photo
West Bengal minister Swapan Debnath has stirred controversy with his remarks urging parents “to closely monitor” their daughters during the ‘Reclaim the Night’ movement.
His comments followed an alleged incident where a woman protester was spotted consuming alcohol with men, raising questions about gender roles and individual freedoms. While Debnath insisted that the state government is accountable for ensuring safety, he stressed that protecting women is a shared responsibility. However, the ruling TMC distanced itself from his statements.
Consuming alcohol
In a video from an event in Purba Bardhaman district on Wednesday, Debnath claimed that during the ‘Reclaim the Night’ protest in Purbasthali, a woman was observed drinking beer with two men at a hotel. Thousands of women had taken part in the protest on September 8, demanding justice for a doctor who was allegedly raped and murdered at Kolkata's RG Kar Hospital a month earlier.
Debnath commented, “What if something unfortunate had happened to the woman? Fortunately, our men were keeping watch, but what if they weren’t there? I urge parents to be aware of their daughter’s actions. Yes, she was at a protest, but later, she was drinking. We alerted her parents to take her home, and we also informed the police to ensure her safety.”
The minister also mentioned that he had asked local hotel owners not to sell alcohol to women after midnight, urging parents to monitor their daughters’ activities after protests.
No moral policing
Debnath added, “While the state is responsible for women’s safety, individuals also bear responsibility.” The authenticity of the video could not be independently verified.
Following the backlash, senior TMC leader Kunal Ghosh clarified that the party did not support Debnath’s statements. He remarked, “We cannot control how individuals, whether men or women, behave — whether they drink or where they go. We do not engage in moral policing.”
Ghosh acknowledged that while the issue of women’s safety raised by Debnath was important, the way the minister expressed his concerns was problematic.