Lagatar24 Desk
Kolkata: Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has sparked a debate on social media after changing his profile picture to black in response to the widespread criticism he faced for his comments on the horrific rape and murder of Dr. Moumita Debnath in Kolkata. Ganguly, who had been criticized for allegedly downplaying the incident by referring to it as a “stray incident,” clarified that his words were taken out of context and that he stands in solidarity with the victim.
On Monday night, Ganguly altered his display picture on the social media platform ‘X’ (formerly known as Twitter) to a black image, captioning it simply with “New Profile Pic.” The gesture, seemingly aimed at expressing his support for the victim and the ongoing investigation, received a mixed reaction from the public.
While some users appreciated Ganguly’s silent protest and viewed it as a sign of his alignment with the demand for justice, others criticized him for what they perceived as an inadequate response to the gravity of the situation. Many questioned why Ganguly did not directly address the issue in a more vocal manner.
In an earlier statement, Ganguly addressed the controversy surrounding his comments, stating, “I said that last Sunday, I don’t know how it was construed or interpreted. It’s a terrible thing, and it’s very shameful what has happened. Now the CBI and police are investigating the matter.” He further emphasized the need for severe punishment to ensure such crimes are not repeated.
The investigation into the Kolkata doctor’s rape-murder case has been taken over by two of the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) top female officers, Sampat Meena and Seema Pahuja. Meena, a 1994 batch IPS officer from Jharkhand, is known for her handling of the high-profile Hathras and Unnao rape cases. Pahuja, who was also part of the Hathras investigation team, joins her in leading the inquiry, bringing their considerable experience to this sensitive case.
Ganguly’s latest gesture has once again placed him at the center of public scrutiny, with opinions divided on whether his blacked-out profile picture is a meaningful act of solidarity or a mere token gesture.
