Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat on Monday slammed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the alleged rape and murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College. Karat stated that the Mamata Banerjee government’s credibility is “zero” in handling the case.
“Mamata Banerjee is trying to protect herself and hide the role of the accused. TMC MPs are making misleading statements, behaving as though they are medical experts while avoiding discussing the actual case. This only proves that the credibility of her government is zero,” Karat said during an interaction with ANI.
Karat also commented on the summoning of TMC MP Sukhendu Shekar Ray by Kolkata Police, noting that Ray had attempted to play a sensitive role in the case but was swiftly summoned by the police.
On Sunday, Ray questioned the Kolkata Police’s investigation in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “CBI must act fairly. Custodial interrogation of the ex-principal and Police Commissioner is a must to know who and why floated the suicide story. Why was the hall wall demolished? Who patronized Sanjay Roy to be so powerful? Why was the sniffer dog brought in after 3 days? There are hundreds of such questions. Make them speak,” Ray wrote.
Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, also criticized the state government for failing to ensure women’s safety. “It’s a shame that the government admits there is no safety for women at night while simultaneously talking about women’s empowerment. Special Advisor Alapan Bandopadhyay even suggests that women should avoid night duty, implying they are unsafe even during the day,” Adhikari said.
West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose echoed similar concerns earlier on Monday, stating that the state has failed to protect its women. “Bengal is not safe for women. The current government has failed its women. Bengal needs to regain its past, where women were respected and safe. Today, women live in fear of ‘gundas’ created by an insensitive government,” Governor Bose remarked.
The controversy stems from the incident on August 9, when a postgraduate trainee doctor was allegedly raped and murdered while on duty at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata. The case has sparked nationwide protests and strikes by the medical community demanding swift justice and better protection for healthcare professionals.
