Sex workers of Kolkata’s prominent red light area, Sonagachi, on Monday (June 23, 2025) staged a protest condemning the recent statements made by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar.

Mr. Majumdar, who also serves as the president of the BJP’s West Bengal unit, courted controversy last Friday by comparing the law and order situation in West Bengal to the “sex workers in Sonagachi”. 

A First Information Report (FIR) was lodged at the Burtolla police station against Mr. Majumdar for his purported remarks based on a complaint by a sex worker.

On Monday, several organisations, including the All India Sex Worker Forum, Amra Podatik, and Komolgandhaar, staged a demonstration near the Sonagachi Sitala Mandir. They condemned Mr. Majumdar’s comments, which they termed “an insult to the profession of sex work, and sex workers”.

“The main reason we are standing in protest is that we — our sex worker sisters — have, for generations, fought hard to create a space called Sonagachi. In the past, people looked at Sonagachi with disdain, but now, everyone is working together to sustain this profession and earn a livelihood with dignity… But as someone who holds a high position and is highly educated, Mr. Majumdar made such a statement,” Raj Kumari Ghosh, a transgender protester from Komogandhar, said.

While the protestors were not seeking an apology from the Union Minister, they hoped that “he clarifies his mistake to society”, Ms. Ghosh said.

Protestors also said they would write a letter on the matter to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and the Union government.

“According to several Supreme Court judgments, it has been clearly stated that sex workers should be able to carry out their profession with dignity… It also says that no press or police authority can harass sex workers in any way… We are not here to insult any political figure or attack any politician. But if anyone, in any way, harms or insults sex workers, we will not remain silent,” Bharati Dey from the All India Sex Worker Forum said.

During the protest, protestors called for the police and the government to intervene and protect the sex workers’ right to dignity, and repeatedly asserted their non-allegiance to any specific political party or agenda.

Earlier, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders had also voiced their protest against Mr. Majumdar’s comments.

“Sukanta Majumdar’s comments were very disgusting, very disgraceful and very disparaging… We stand by these sex workers. They are extremely humiliated. Trinamool Congress expresses its vehement protests against such remarks. He should immediately withdraw his statements and apologise to the sex workers in Sonagachi,” Trinamool legislator Shashi Panja said on Saturday.

The controversy has unfolded at a time when the State BJP is demanding action against Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mondal’s disparaging comments towards the mother and wife of the officer in-charge of the Bolpur police station.