What began as a night of national pride soon turned political, as West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s congratulatory message to India’s victorious women’s cricket team ignited a fresh round of controversy with the BJP taking a sharp dig at her past remarks on women’s safety.
Hours after Harmanpreet Kaur’s team scripted history by clinching India’s first-ever ICC Women’s World Cup title with a 52-run win over South Africa at Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium, Banerjee took to social media to hail the players’ achievement.
“Today, the entire nation is incredibly proud of our Women in Blue for their feat in the World Cup final. The fight they showed and the command they displayed throughout the tournament will be an inspiration for generations of young girls… You are our heroes,” Banerjee posted on X (formerly Twitter).
But what was intended as a message of celebration quickly turned into a political flashpoint. The BJP’s official handle responded with biting sarcasm, referencing Banerjee’s controversial October remarks about women staying out late at night.
“OMG they were playing till 12! But you had told them to be home by 8. #Raat8Ta #WomensWorldCup2025,” the BJP wrote, in a post that instantly went viral.
The jab referred to Banerjee’s earlier comments following a gang-rape case at a Durgapur private medical college, where she questioned why the survivor was “out at 12.30 at night,” adding, “especially a girl child at night-time, they shouldn’t be allowed to come outside.”
Those remarks had triggered nationwide outrage, with many accusing the Chief Minister of victim-blaming rather than addressing West Bengal’s law and order concerns.
Union Minister and Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar had then slammed Banerjee, saying, “The Chief Minister cannot possibly evade responsibility for the absolute collapse of law and order in West Bengal. Shockingly, even now, she has chosen to shift the blame onto the private medical college!”
BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia went further, branding Banerjee “a blot on womanhood,” while the National Commission for Women (NCW) termed her statement “absurd.”
Meanwhile, India’s historic win — anchored by 21-year-old Shafali Verma’s blistering performance — united millions of fans across the country in jubilation. As political sparring dominated social media, the women’s team chose to stay above the fray, basking in their hard-earned triumph.
