Lagatar24 Desk
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s protest rally over the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata has drawn sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The incident, which occurred on August 9 at RG Kar Medical College, has sparked nationwide outrage, with calls for swift justice.
Leading the charge against Banerjee, Union Minister and West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar questioned the purpose of her protest, given her multiple roles as the state’s Chief Minister, Home Minister, and Health Minister. “She herself holds these key positions; who is she protesting against?” Majumdar asked, accusing Banerjee of politicizing the tragedy instead of ensuring a fair investigation and punishment for the culprits.
BJP Women’s Wing National Vice President Pooja Kapil Mishra also criticized Banerjee, labeling her as a “drama queen” and accusing her of neglecting her duties to protect women in the state. Mishra highlighted the irony of Banerjee leading a protest despite being the state’s leader for three consecutive terms. “This is the height of her insensitivity,” Mishra remarked, adding that the law has been “buried in a ditch” under Banerjee’s rule.
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla further mocked Banerjee by suggesting that she was essentially protesting against herself, given her various official roles. “Home Minister Mamata protesting against Health Minister Mamata demanding CM Mamata acts on Health Minister Mamata even as Home Minister Mamata fails in her duty,” Poonawalla tweeted.
Mamata Banerjee Leads Protest Rally
On Friday, Banerjee led a protest rally from Moulali to Dorina Crossing in Kolkata, demanding justice for the trainee doctor who was brutally raped and murdered in the seminar room of RG Kar Medical College. The rally, however, drew criticism from the opposition, who questioned her motives and the effectiveness of her leadership in addressing the issue.
TMC Defends Banerjee’s Move
In response to the criticism, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP and spokesperson Derek O’Brien defended Banerjee’s decision to lead the protest. In a statement on social media, O’Brien acknowledged the heinous nature of the crime and the public outrage that followed. He explained that while it might seem unusual for the Chief Minister to lead such a rally, it was crucial to demand swift justice from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is now handling the case.
O’Brien emphasized that the CBI must provide daily updates on the investigation and ensure that all involved are brought to justice. He also urged the CBI to avoid burying the case quietly and to bring the culprits to a fast-track court for the harshest punishment.
Nationwide Protests and IMA Strike
The horrific crime has sparked nationwide protests, with junior doctors and medical students across cities like Delhi, Kolkata, and Hyderabad demanding swift justice. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has announced a 24-hour nationwide strike, during which all modern medicine doctors, regardless of sector or place of work, will withdraw their services. The strike began at 6 am on Saturday, August 17, and will conclude at 6 am on Sunday, August 18. While emergency services will continue, no outpatient departments (OPDs) or elective surgeries will be conducted during this period.
The Calcutta High Court has transferred the investigation from the Kolkata Police to the CBI, a move welcomed by Banerjee, who urged the agency to conclude the case swiftly. Banerjee has also called for capital punishment for the culprits, while accusing the opposition BJP and CPI(M) of attempting to politicize the incident and obscure the truth.
As the investigation continues and protests intensify, the demand for justice for the young doctor remains at the forefront of public discourse in West Bengal and across the nation.
