Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Jawhar Sircar, who announced his resignation from the Rajya Sabha on Sunday in response to the Kolkata rape-murder case, has been urged by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to reconsider his decision. The shocking incident, involving the rape and murder of a doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital, has stirred public outrage and led to widespread protests.
In a letter to Mamata Banerjee, Sircar expressed his dissatisfaction with the government’s response to the incident and declared his intention to step down from his Rajya Sabha seat. He further called on Banerjee to “save the state” from its current crisis. Sircar indicated that he would travel to Delhi to formally submit his resignation to Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, with reports suggesting he is expected to visit the capital on September 11.
Following Sircar’s announcement, Mamata Banerjee reportedly called him, requesting that he reconsider his decision to resign from the upper house of Parliament. Sircar, in his letter, had voiced disappointment over the government’s lack of swift intervention, particularly noting that he had expected Banerjee to step in “in the old Mamata style.”
“I thought you would interfere in the ongoing movement in your old style, but I did not see it,” Sircar wrote, criticizing the government’s handling of protests by junior doctors at RG Kar Hospital. He added that there was widespread public anger and a growing lack of confidence in the administration.
Reasons Behind Jawhar Sircar’s Resignation
Sircar’s decision comes in the wake of the horrific rape and murder of a trainee doctor on August 9 at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer, has been arrested for the crime. However, the incident sparked questions about the hospital administration and the role of Kolkata police, particularly due to the delay in filing the First Information Report (FIR) and allegations of mishandling by the hospital’s former principal, Dr. Sandip Ghosh, who initially tried to frame the incident as a suicide.
In his letter, Sircar criticized the delayed government response, stating that if punitive measures had been taken sooner, normalcy could have been restored. He also mentioned his intent to “completely disassociate” himself from politics following his resignation.
TMC leader Kunal Ghosh, responding to Sircar’s resignation, said he respects the MP’s personal decision, noting Sircar’s reputation as one of West Bengal’s most distinguished bureaucrats.
The Kolkata doctor’s murder continues to fuel anger across the state, with many questioning the actions of both the hospital administration and the police. As the case unfolds, Sircar’s resignation and the public’s demand for justice have intensified political and social tensions in West Bengal.
