Kolkata rape-murder: How RG Kar incident has spurred a political blame game in Bengal
Aug. 16, 2024, 8:38 a.m.
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The brutal rape and murder of a young medical resident in Kolkata, West Bengal, has sparked a political blame game. The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) has accused the opposition parties – the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI (M) – of trying to stir up unrest in the state. The opposition has challenged the Mamata Banerjee-led government over the incident.
The violence and vandalism at Kolkata’s state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital – where the woman’s body was found – in the wee hours of August 15 amid doctors’ protest has further added fuel to the political slugfest. From the ruling TMC to the opposition BJP, several political parties are taking to the streets in Bengal today (August 16) over the brutal rape and death case and vandalism at the hospital.
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Mamata Banerjee slams opposition
West Bengal's chief minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to lead a rally at 4 pm in Kolkata seeking justice for the rape-murder victim through the death penalty for the primary suspect. One Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer, has been apprehended in the case.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is investigating the case and has so far questioned five officials of the RG Kar hospital in relation to the incident.
On Thursday, Banerjee accused CPI(M) and the BJP for the late-night attack on the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Speaking to reporters after attending the Independence Day tea party at the Raj Bhawan, she stated that the protesting doctors were not responsible for the vandalism and violence.
“The perpetrators were outsiders. I don't blame the students. They were some outside political individuals who want to create chaos in Bengal – the Left and the BJP (in local political terms). They have joined forces to cause this disturbance…,” the CM said, according to The New Indian Express (TNIE).
She further stated, “In the footage I reviewed, I observed individuals displaying the Indian flag, who appeared to be BJP supporters, and others with the DYFI's red-and-white banner.”
DYFI represents the Democratic Youth Front of India, the youth wing of the CPI-M.
Earlier, Banerjee had alleged a “coordinated” attempt by the BJP and CPI(M) to politicize the rape and murder of the junior doctor.
Advertisement Referring to the student protests in Bangladesh that led to the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government, the Bengal CM alleged the opposition was trying to “create a Bangladesh-like situation here”.
She also accused the opposition parties of trying to tarnish the image of West Bengal. “A coordinated strategy has been implemented by the BJP and CPI(M), with support from the Centre, to defame Bengal and take advantage of the situation… They want to replicate Bangladesh here. I have no desire for power. I came here to serve the people,” Banerjee was quoted as saying by Indian Express.
The West Bengal Chief Minister also highlighted the mistreatment of women during the previous Left administration in the state, and similar offenses in other areas such as Delhi and Uttar Pradesh's Hathras.
Advertisement “I want to address the Congress as well. Numerous incidents occur in your states, what actions are taken? Please refrain from politicizing the situation solely for social media attention and news coverage,” she addressed the opposition parties.
Her statement on Wednesday followed Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's remarks on the Bengal rape-murder case. Accusing the TMC government of “attempting” to protect the accused, he tweeted, “The nation is appalled by the brutal rape and murder of a junior doctor in Kolkata. As details of this cruel and inhuman act against her emerge, a sense of insecurity prevails among the medical community and women.
Advertisement “The attempt to shield the perpetrator instead of providing justice to the victim raises serious concerns about the hospital and local administration,” he stated.
कोलकाता में जूनियर डॉक्टर के साथ हुई रेप और मर्डर की वीभत्स घटना से पूरा देश स्तफ्ध है। उसके साथ हुए क्रूर और अमानवीय कृत्य की परत दर परत जिस तरह खुल कर सामने आ रही है, उससे डॉक्टर्स कम्युनिटी और महिलाओं के बीच असुरक्षा का माहौल है।
पीड़िता को न्याय दिलाने की जगह आरोपियों को…
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 14, 2024 Opposition lambasts Bengal govt
The opposition BJP in West Bengal has called for Banerjee’s resignation due to the violence at RG Kar hospital.
BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, claimed that “TMC goons” were responsible for the vandalism. “Mamata Banerjee has deployed her TMC supporters to the peaceful Protest Rally near RG Kar Medical College and Hospital…They were allowed to enter the hospital premises by the Police, who either fled or ignored the situation, enabling these individuals to destroy areas containing crucial evidence to prevent the CBI from gathering it,” he wrote on X.
Adhikari has also sent a letter to the Union government requesting the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) at the RG Kar Medical College to “stop further destruction of evidence”.
West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar previously questioned the silence of female TMC MPs regarding the violent incident.
TMC MP Mahua Moitra has criticised the political narrative of painting women TMC leaders as “Gungi gudiya (mute dolls)”. “There is no cover-up. Mamata Banerjee is the only lady chief minister in India and has always stood for women’s causes. To somehow put a political leaning to this and say that all of us are Gungi gudiya (mute dolls) is some kind of political narrative that we had to face before and that we are going to fight back again,” she said in a video posted on X.
We stand in solidarity with those expressing genuine sorrow and fear on the streets. However, it's crucial to separate truth from misleading information. @MamataOfficial pic.twitter.com/WLI5n908sg
— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) August 15, 2024 The CPI(M) state secretary Mohammed Salim has also criticised the TMC and the state government over the vandalism.
CPI(M)’s Sujan Chakraborty alleged “the hand of the CM” in the vandalism. Another leader of the party Bikash Ranjan, as per Times of India, said: “Trinamool has orchestrated both the crime and the attack by miscreants yesterday.”
Congress leader Supriya Shrinate has questioned whether women are safe in India. Alleging “cover-up” by the local administration of the crime in Bengal, she said to ANI, “What is happening with women in this country? Why did the local administration try to cover up the crime? The violence we saw yesterday is unacceptable and it is not the answer to anything…”
Annie Raja, national secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI), has described the political finger-pointing following the rape and murder of the 31-year-old doctor as a “tragedy” for Indian women.
“This is the tragedy of Indian women, whenever they are raped and murdered brutally, the political blame game takes place. After a few days, everything ends, again it will start when other lady meets the same fate. Nobody is sincere to see that women of this country enjoy equal citizenship or equality and justice. Until and unless all the political parties will take it as a serious political issue, (this can’t be addressed). Finally, who are the victims? Who are the sufferers? It is the women and the girls,” she told PTI.
Opposition protests in Bengal
As Banerjee takes to the streets, opposition parties in Bengal have organized their own demonstrations.
The BJP’s women’s wing will hold a candlelight march to Banerjee’s south Kolkata residence demanding the resignation of the CM over the RG Kar vandalism.
BJP's Majumdar has announced that the party will stage a sit-in protest near the hospital. The saffron party has also planned road blockades across Kolkata and other districts of the state today, from 2 pm to 4 pm.
The Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) began its 12-hour general strike on Friday to protest the rape and murder of the doctor. The party leaders also condemned the TMC government over its “failure” to ensure the safety of doctors.
With inputs from agencies
