Kolkata: The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in Bengal is in a damage control mode. A day after West Bengal Mamata Banerjee invited controversy having given a ‘love affair’ or ‘pregnant’ twist to the rape of a minor girl, who died later at Hanskhali in Nadia district, TMC MP Mahua Moitra condemned the incident and said “there is no word to describe the horrible incident.” On Wednesday, TMC MP and spokesperson Sukhendu Sekhar Ray was seen in a damage control mode after her supremo earned widespread ire over her ‘love affair’ remark.

“The Hanskhali incident is condemnable, barbaric and a symbol of social degradation,” said Ray. 

He further added, “These days, most of the cases happening are involving the family members. So, it’s important that we take care of our own houses too.” Ray also asked the CBI, who is handling the case, to identify the accused.

According to reports, the minor girl in the Nadia district of south Bengal had joined the birthday party of local TMC leader Samar Gayali’s son Brajagopal Gayali at his place on April 4 and in the late evening, some locals brought her home with severe sickness.

Family members of the 14-year-old girl were also allegedly threatened not to take her to any government or private hospital. They were also advised to take the girl to a local quack doctor.

On April 5, early morning, the girl died at her house. Her family members alleged that she had been gang-raped by the TMC leader’s son and his friends at the birthday party. 

It was also alleged that her body was cremated under pressure with kerosene at a local unregistered crematorium, without medical test, autopsy, or even any death certificate.

Meanwhile, a controversy erupted when the Bengal CM Mamata questioned whether the girl was “raped” or “was pregnant” or “had love affairs”.

“The police are yet to understand the cause of her death. I had asked them. Will you call it rape or was she pregnant? Was it a love affair? Have you enquired about these?,” she said at a government programme.

Mamata also said, “The body has been cremated without informing anyone. Now how would the police investigate the matter!”

This did not go down well with the opposition, and also the intellectuals. From filmmakers to common people, the Bengal CM invited widespread flak.

On Tuesday, TMC Lok Sabha member from Krishnanagar in Nadia district, Mahua Moitra, said that consensual sex with a minor, i.e., someone below 18 years of age, is rape as per the law and a crime. She said this after visiting the residence of the minor victim and interacting with the members of her family.

“As a party MP, all I want to say is that I am totally against such incidents. I cannot speak of others. But I will not tolerate such things,” Moitra said.