Rape: Boys, girls mixing freely, says Mamata

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday alleged that a section of the media is deliberately misleading people through exaggerated news on rape.

"Earlier, girls and boys were beaten up when their parents got to know about affairs of their sons and daughters with someone. Now the things have changed and a global world has emerged. Boys and girls are now mixing freely," Mamata said while launching the festival edition of her party mouthpiece Jago Bangla in Kolkata.

She alleged attempts were on to malign the image of the state. "The state is being projected in such a way that it is the 'soil of rape'. This is not our culture," she remarked.

Banerjee said a section of TV channels and newspapers with vested business interest are airing and printing concocted news to malign her government. "They are doing this from business point of view. They want to grow businesses with the help of exaggerated news. They don't present news, they actually pollute news."

"False propaganda on rape does not only malign the government but it also creates a bad impression on the mind of children. The children are asking their parents what is rape. Do not try to glorify rape," she advised the media.

"The situation has worsened so much that now a blood-spattered body is put on exhibition by news channels. They poison the people's mind by blowing minor and stray incident out of proportion. The good work never gets place in the media," Mamata said.

However, the chief minister said she "welcomes criticism" against her. "You can say about me whatever you want. I have not taken the chair of Chief Minister for power. I served the people when I was not in the power and I will continue to do so," she said.

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