A Left women's group today blamed the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal for the spurt in incidents of rape in the state.
"When the Park Street rape, Katwa rape and other incidents of rape and molestation were occurring, the state government was in a denial mode," Minati Ghosh of the All India Progressive Women's Association said.
"Such denials only encouraged the culprits as they felt assured that they would go scot free after committing the crime," she said.
The state government should take firm action against the culprits irrespective of the party colour and creed, she said.
"The lethargic action by the state government and the grass root level involvement of TMC leaders to downplay incidents of rape and crime against women is condemnable," said Ghosh.
The association, with other women's group, will organise a seminar on rising crime against women on February 23.
