“But you told them to be home by 8”: BJP’s cheeky dig at Mamata Banerjee's post congratulating Team India goes viral

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. File Pic

After India's victory in the ODI Women's World Cup 2025 by 52 runs against South Africa on Sunday, November 2, several politicians congratulated Team India.

In her post congratulating the Indian women cricketers on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote, "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 have proved that you are a world-class team at the apex level and you gave us some absolutely brilliant moments. You are our heroes. Many bigger victories await you in the future. We stand with you!"

The final was a nail-biting clash that kept fans on the edge of their seats until 12:30 a.m., as India clinched a memorable win over South Africa.

However, her post soon sparked a humorous exchange online with BJP's West Bengal unit taking a dig at her congratulatory message.

"OMG, they were playing till 12! But you had told them to be home by 8!", the BJP West Bengal retweeted, in a jibe referencing her earlier remarks urging girls and women not to stay out late at night following incidents of assault in her state.

The BJP's tongue-in-cheek comment quickly went viral, prompting a flurry of witty reactions and memes from social media users.

CM Mamata Banerjee had said 'Female boarders should not venture out late at night'

A student from Odisha, pursuing studies in a private medical college in West Bengal's Paschim Bardhaman district, was allegedly gang raped last month outside the campus of her institute in Durgapur when she was out with one of her friends for dinner. Three people have been arrested in the incident.

Highlighting that nobody involved in the case will be spared, Banerjee had then urged female boarders, especially those from outside the state, to follow hostel rules and not venture out late at night.

Banerjee's statement had received severe backlash from across the country. While women's safety in West Bengal has come under scrutiny since the rape and murder of a medico in Kolkata last year, CM Banerjee's lack assurance raised further questions towards women's safety in the state.