Rapes linked to rising population, says Mamata Banerjee

In a bizarre remark, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held the rise in population responsible for the spurt in rape cases in the state.

While replying to a debate on the governor’s address, Banerjee said: “The population is increasing. Is the population in Bengal the same as it was during the time of Bidhan Chandra Roy, the first chief minister of Bengal? You have raised many questions on law and order. You are saying that rapes are increasing. “The population is increasing, cars are increasing, infrastructure is increasing and shopping malls are increasing. Multiplexes are coming up. Young people are becoming modern. Don’t you welcome it?” Banerjee said.

She claimed that only 45 rape cases were reported in Kolkata till November 2012 as against 621 in Delhi.

“Earlier, women felt shy of reporting such cases. There has been an increase in social consciousness. Now they are registering complaints. This is a good sign. Earlier complaints were not even registered,” Banerjee said.

Substantiating her claim with data, Banerjee said 44 rape cases were reported in Kolkata in 2007, 35 in 2008, 42 in 2009, 32 in 2010, 38 in 2011 and 45 in 2012. In contrast, there were 453 rape cases in Delhi in 2011, 221 in Mumbai, 97 in Bangalore and 76 in Chennai.
Banerjee went on to say that there were 1,673 rape cases in Bengal in 2005, 1,693 in 2006, 2,062 in 2007, 2,228 in 2008, 2,292 in 2009, 2,279 in 2010, 1,650 in 2011 and 1,836 up to November, 2012.