Kolkata: Political figures across the spectrum, along with psychologists and women’s rights activists, have expressed grave concern over the recent incident at the law college, condemning it as a disturbing example of rape being weaponised in an environment marked by immunity and impunity.TOI spoke to both present and former ministers, MPs, and councillors from the Trinamool, the CPM, and the BJP, all of whom started their political careers from college campuses (like Presidency, Asutosh, St Paul’s, City, Surendranath). Nearly all of them said there was a culture of impunity and immunity on many campuses. Colleges have to strike a balance between giving students their “democratic rights” and discipline and often choose the easier option (giving up discipline).“It is not a question of politics and the colour of the party flag. Every campus that has an ‘overtly political character’ registers complaints or instances of misogynist behaviour. So Jadavpur University, with its predominantly ultra-left politics, or some other campuses that typically nurture ruling-party unions (SFI during the CPM regime or Trinamool Chhatra Parishad during the Trinamool’s tenure) all report sexual harassment or sex abuse complaints from time to time,” said a neta.Another leader who rose up the ranks from college politics acknowledged that there was a definite “feeling of empowerment” that campus politics tends to give. He also admitted that students with “predatory instincts” use this, and that is what gives rise to this culture of impunity or immunity.Psychologist Ratnaboli Ray described the event as revenge rape. “It was a naked display and demonstration of power. He was making a statement: ‘Just because you rejected me, I will show you I have the power and you are mine. I have control over your body.’ And he did it with blatant impunity,” she stated.Women’s rights activist Anuradha Kapur commented that the youth’s actions on the college campus adjacent to the main road indicated his lack of fear of consequences. “The culture of impunity is so ingrained that he thought he could get away with it. There was no fear because rape culture has been normalised by the political dispensation. It used to happen in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar. Now, it is happening in Bengal as well,” Kapur said.Both Kapur and Ray criticised politician and lawyer Kalyan Bandyopadhyay for his insensitive remarks, asserting that they demonstrate the institutionalisation of impunity. Kapur also questioned why institutions like the law college did not implement mechanisms to ensure campus safety following the incident at RG Kar Medical College. “All colleges are supposed to have an internal complaint committee (ICC). Why wasn’t there one here?” she asked.
