Mamata links rape to rising population, shopping malls

Blames certain newspapers for exaggerating rape incidents and adds that social consciousness has seen a rise in rape cases

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee linked rising number of rapes to increasing population and rise in shopping malls on Friday.

While replying to a debate in the assembly she said, "The population is increasing. Is the population in West Bengal the same as it was during the time of Bidhan Chandra Roy(first chief minister of West Bengal)? You have raised many questions on law order. You are saying that rapes are increasing?"

Explaining her theory on the same Banerjee added by saying, "The population is increasing, number of vehicles is also on the rise. Infrastructure is increasing and also the shopping malls. Our young boys and girls are becoming modern. Don't you welcome this."

This was her reply to the opposition which was raising questions after questions on the state's law and order situation and why number of rapes are increasing in the state.

The chief minister once again blamed certain newspapers for exaggerating rape incidents and added that social consciousness has seen a rise in rape cases. "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," she added.

Jumbling out with statistics, Banerjee cited that Kolkata had 44 rape cases in 2007, 35 in 2008, 42 in 2009, 32 in 2010, 38 in 2011 and 45 in 2012. In the whole state there were 1,673 rape cases 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 in 2012.

In 2011 there were 453 rape cases in Delhi, 221 in Mumbai, 97 in Bangalore, and 76 in Chennai, she said adding that in 2012, there were 621 rapes in Delhi. Later in the day, Partha Chatterjee, state industries minister, defending Banerjee's comments, said, "She has not said anything wrong. During Bidhan Chandra Roy's tenure the population was manageable but today that number has increased and ill impact of left was not there during Roy's era but we have to manage with that also in the present day."