MIDNAPORE/KOLKATA: Bengal water resources minister Soumen Mahapatra on Tuesday alleged that opposition parties have paid Rs 20 lakh to rapists and unleashed them in the state to block the development under CM Mamata Banerjee .

“Rapists have been released in the society and they are being paid Rs 20 lakh. Three political parties have a lot of money and they are using these men to stem the development brought about by Mamata Banerjee,” Mahapatra said at a public meeting in Keshiary in West Midnapore. He claimed that Ansar Ali, the prime accused in the Kamduni rape-murder, was a CPM supporter but Ansar’s brother told TOI on Wednesday that he was a staunch Trinamool worker.

Mahapatra’s comments drew sharp criticism from opposition leaders. State Congress president Pradip Bhattacharya said the minister was out of his mind. “In fact, the state is being run by a mindless government. How else can a minister make such comments? This is utter nonsense. Trinamool should realise that people will soon accost its leaders and demand explanations for such nonsensical comments,” he said.

State BJP president Rahul Sinha said he was shocked. “The opposition doesn’t need to spend money. The chief minister has herself asked rapists to carry on with their misdeeds as she will compensate the victims. No wonder, the state is leading the country in crimes against women. The chief minister has not spoken out against the culprits. Before making such comments, the minister should check what his CM has been saying,” he said.

CPM leader Md Salim dubbed it an attempt to “deflect opinion”.

