Amid the intense outcry over the rape and murder of a postgraduate doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has defended West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee against demands for her resignation, labeling the opposition’s calls as “patriarchal.”
The TMC has questioned why male chief ministers are not subjected to similar scrutiny when such crimes occur in their states. “There have been numerous incidents across various states, but why is only the resignation of the only female Chief Minister being demanded? This reflects patriarchy,” said Bengal Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya, as reported by NDTV.
The party also criticized the Nabanna Abhijan, a protest march organized by student groups, accusing it of attempting to create chaos. Students and doctors have been protesting against the state government, demanding justice for the junior doctor killed on August 9.
Bhattacharya alleged that the protest was part of a BJP-ABVP plot to incite disorder, claiming that there is a plan to create violence under the guise of police uniform. “Students have exams tomorrow; they shouldn’t be involved in such activities. This is vulture politics,” she said.
Ghosh questioned the motives behind the rally, suggesting that students should be marching to the CBI office instead, as the agency has taken over the investigation. He also presented videos allegedly showing individuals advocating for violence, linking them to right-wing groups and some leftist factions, including the CPI(M).
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) denied involvement in the rally, stating that any party members participating do so in their personal capacity.
The tragic incident, which involved the rape and murder of a postgraduate doctor whose body was found in the seminar hall of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, has led to accusations against the TMC of covering up the crime and protecting the accused. The BJP and other opposition parties have demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.